6 pending free agents 49ers shouldn’t bother re-signing

No. 1: 49ers Cornerback Richard Sherman

San Francisco mostly got what it needed out of veteran cornerback Richard Sherman during the three years he spent with the team after joining in NFL free agency in 2018.

True, 2020 was marked more by injuries than anything else. Yet Sherman helped transform what was predominantly a young defense in 2018 into one of the league’s best the following year en route to a Super Bowl appearance. Sherman’s captaincy and mentorship were also vital pieces to what Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch wanted to build within the locker room.

More from SF 49ers Free Agency

• Former 49ers kicker Robbie Gould still wants to play for Bears
• 49ers bolster wide receiver room by grabbing Chris Conley
• 49ers news: Kerry Hyder is back to bolster defensive line depth
• Low-risk free agents 49ers can still target before NFL Draft
• 49ers aren’t talking to this free agent (but they should)

All that said, it’s time to move on.

It appears as if Sherman understands this, telling NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco earlier this offseason he doesn’t plan on returning. And as Sherman missed all but five games in 2020 because of injury, a banged-up 49ers defense still managed to finish fifth best in the league in terms of yards allowed.

True, the Niners are poised to lose a lot of their starting-caliber and reserve cornerbacks this offseason, Sherman included.

Yet among the names San Francisco shouldn’t include on the possible re-sign list, it’s probably wiser to thank the future Hall of Famer for what he was able to do in transforming the franchise but then bid him luck and farewell as he hits the open market.