With the San Francisco 49ers out of the playoffs, fans are left to watch other teams compete for the Super Bowl. Niners fans will definitely be pulling for the Buffalo Bills over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship, given the fact the Chiefs have defeated the Niners twice in the Super Bowl in recent memory.
Fans should also hope the Niners make a run at these three pending free agents for Buffalo after the season is over.
Amari Cooper
Wide receiver Amari Cooper is going to be a free agent after the season. The 49ers already have three solid receivers in Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Jauan Jennings, not to mention Ricky Pearsall who impressed late in his rookie campaign.
However, if 2024 taught us anything, it's that a team can never have enough depth at a skill position.
The Niners went through countless running backs last season, so adding Cooper would guard against a similar situation occurring with their wide receivers. The Alabama product did not have the strongest 2024 season, with 547 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions in 14 games, six with the Cleveland Browns and eight with the Bills.
If the 49ers could get him on a one-year contract, it could be a good way to boost their wide receiving corps and guard against any injuries that may occur in 2025.
Rasul Douglas
With cornerback Charvarius Ward seeming very likely to depart San Francisco in free agency, the 49ers could opt to replace him with cornerback Rasul Douglas. Even though the veteran did not record any interceptions in the 2024 regular season, he had five during the 2023 season splitting time with the Green Bay Packers and Bills.
The Niners do have Deommodore Lenoir locked up with an extension and a promising young corner in Renardo Green, but Douglas would give them a veteran presence in the secondary.
Damar Hamlin
Of course, many fans remember safety Damar Hamlin for his terrifying collpase after suffering cardiac arrest on the field during a game in early 2023. Thankfully, he has come back from that scary episode and had a solid 2024 season with two interceptions in 14 starts.
Talanoa Hufanga could potentially depart the 49ers in free agency, and if he does, he will leave a hole at the safety position. Malik Mustapha impressed as a rookie in 2024, but Ji'Ayir Brown regressed in his second year, so adding Hamlin to the mix would make the safety position stronger.
Let's hope that the Bills will be representing the AFC in the Super Bowl, and let's hope that the 49ers make a run at these free agents in the offseason.