The 49ers' loss to the Dolphins revealed a lot about Kyle Shanahan's squad, especially regarding these three players' futures with San Francisco.
The San Francisco 49ers were effectively eliminated from postseason contention before Week 16 even began, but the actual elimination went official just prior to their kickoff against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
A hidden bonus is the fact head coach Kyle Shanahan can begin his offseason roster evaluation in earnest, taking a closer look at where upgrades are needed without having to worry too much about carrying momentum into the playoffs.
Well, the 29-17 defeat at Hard Rock Stadium gave Shanahan plenty of data.
There'll be some awfully tough decisions, yes. Quarterback Brock Purdy didn't exactly help his case for a massive contract extension this offseason, thanks to a late-game interception that wholly thwarted the Niners' chances to stage a comeback.
However, there should be some fairly easy decisions for the head coach to make when it comes to not retaining players beyond this season.
Particularly these three.
No. 1: Kicker Jake Moody
It might have been understandable for kicker Jake Moody to boast inconsistencies in a rookie season, but the second-year pro out of Michigan remains just as inconsistent as he was in 2023.
And the excuses for the former third-round NFL Draft pick are swiftly running out.
Weeks after a very public call-out by wide receiver Deebo Samuel, Moody again missed a crucial field goal against Miami that appeared to be the last straw for Shanahan:
Kyle Shanahan was animated on the sideline after Jake Moody's miss 😬 pic.twitter.com/unDKnQoLzr
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) December 22, 2024
Players like Samuel have to be frustrated with Moody, and it appears as if Shanahan has reached that level, too.
For a team that'll still have postseason aspirations in 2025, an inconsistent Moody can't be part of the equation. So, despite having two years left on his rookie deal, San Francisco must admit the mistake and pull the plug on Moody.
No. 2: Running back Patrick Taylor Jr.
In fairness to running back Patrick Taylor Jr., he was never intended to actually start a game for the 49ers after coming over on a free-agent deal last offseason. In fact, Taylor hasn't been on the full 53-man roster the entirety of the year, thanks largely to the plethora of other tailbacks who kept the special teams ace on the periphery.
But injuries mandated Taylor start in Week 16, the Niners' fourth starter at the position this season, which is just an example of why injury attrition can be so brutal.
It wasn't as if Taylor seized the opportunity, though.
The former Green Bay Packer managed just 24 yards on eight attempts, averaging a paltry 3.0 yards in the game. However, his two dropped passes loom large, and it was more than clear he can't be an effective dual-threat weapon in Shanahan's offense.
No. 3: Left guard Aaron Banks
In 2022 and 2023, left guard Aaron Banks appeared to be coming into his own after mostly redshirting his rookie 2021 season, leading many to believe he'd cash in on a lucrative contract opportunity this season before hitting the free-agent market in 2025.
But Banks has largely been a disappointment, and Sunday's loss put an even bigger stamp on his financial prospects.
The second-round pick out of Notre Dame suffered what appeared to be an MCL injury, which likely ends his season and jeopardizes his hopes for that big contract, one that'll probably be secured elsewhere outside of the Bay Area.
It's brutal for Banks, yes. But the injury also makes things easier for San Francisco. Shanahan won't have to think too hard about whether re-signing the left guard is a smart move.
Instead, the 49ers can begin early auditions for the role over the final two weeks of their 2024 campaign.