Niner Noise
FanSided

Top 10 Biggest Mistakes the 49ers Have Made Since 2015

By Peter Panacy

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October 5, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Mike Iupati (77) lines up during the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Chiefs 22-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 5, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Mike Iupati (77) lines up during the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Chiefs 22-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 6: Not Re-Signing G Mike Iupati

Injuries might have forced former 49ers guard Mike Iupati to have a not-so-great 2014 campaign. Yet he was still one of the more sought-after free agents on the market that season.

Iupati ended up signing a five-year, $40 million contract with San Francisco’s NFC West rivals, the Arizona Cardinals, the following offseason. The former first-round pick of the Niners remains one of the better offensive linemen in the NFL.

Yes, Iupati would have been an expensive re-signing. But it’s likely he would have accepted a bit of a discount to stay in San Francisco. Many players do.

Instead, the 49ers elected to invest their hopes in fellow linemen Anthony Davis and Alex Boone. Boone departed via free agency a year later. And Davis?

Well, he retired twice since then — the first time shortly after the 2015 NFL Draft, and the second early into the 2016 season.

All the while, Iupati is still playing at a high level and the 49ers offensive line is still in rebuild mode.

Hey, at least San Francisco has Zane Beadles, right?