The San Francisco 49ers' 2024 season is over, which means the team is already full invested in the plan for 2025. This includes hiring a new defensive and special teams coordinator while also considering free agency and the NFL Draft.
But it also might include looking at the list of guys who will be entering free agency after the 2025 campaign and making choices about each players' long-term future with the franchise.
Will the Niners extend some of their longest tenured players beyond 2025? What about extensions for guys who might have outperformed expectations in 2024? Given the long list of players currently out of contract after next season, the 2025 offseason might be the time to think about what to do with them before the clock starts ticking this time next year.
With that in mind, let's take a look at all the players who will be up for free agency after the 2025 season, many of whom will be playing for their jobs in 2024.
We'll take a look at them in buckets based on the type of free agent they will be as well.
All salary cap figures come via OverTheCap.com.
Void Year All-Stars
The 49ers' brass loves to add void years on the ends of its contracts to lessen salary cap hits in the early parts of their contract extensions. The thinking is that as the cap continues to grow, the numbers they might be paying players not to be Niners will be much more palatable.
It also opens up opportunities for extensions like we saw last offseason with left tackle Trent Williams and running back Christian McCaffrey, where void years or seasons without guaranteed money can lead to more money down the road.
Here are the list of players in contract years with void years in 2025 (and beyond in some cases):
- TE George Kittle
- WR Deebo Samuel
- DL Maliek Collins
- DE Leonard Floyd
- WR Jauan Jennings
- OT Colton McKivitz
- FB Kyle Juszczyk
- DT Jordan Elliott
Unrestricted Free Agents
The next group are veterans with four or more seasons who are free to sign with any team after the free agency period ends. The Ninersrs will either need to work out extensions with them this offseason or into next year, or any team can offer them a contract after the start of the 2026 league year.
Players noted with an asterisk are on the practice squad and recently signed future/reserve deals with the team.
- QB Brock Purdy (although it's unlikely he gets there)
- OL Nick Zakelj
- CB Tre Avery
- OL Spencer Burford
- WR Isaiah Hodgins
- DE Jonathan Garvin*
- C Matt Hennessey
- WR Russell Gage
- WR Trent Tayor*
- LS Taybor Pepper
- DE Drake Jackson
Restricted Free Agents
This pool is players out of contract who have exactly three accrued seasons in the league. According to the NFL's website, "RFAs are free to negotiate and sign with any team, but their original team can offer them one of various qualifying offers ("tenders") that come with the right of first refusal and/or draft-pick compensation. If the tender is withdrawn by a team, the RFA becomes an unrestricted free agent."
- DL Kalia Davis
- CB Chase Lucas*
Exclusive Rights Free Agents
These are players with fewer than three seasons in the league. It's pretty simple here. The 49ers can offer them a contract. If they do, this is the only team the player can sign for. If not, they become free agents.
- LB DeShaun White
- C Drake Nugent*
- OT Isaac Alarcon
- OT Jalen McKenzie
- OG Zack Johnson*
- TE Mason Pline*
- WR Terique Owens*
- QB Tanner Mordecai*
- S Jalen Mahoney*
- OL Sebastian Gutierrez*
- DE Tarron Jackson*
The 49ers will have decisions to make, maybe as soon as this offseason for the guys listed in the top pool here, in order to keep key players on the team in San Francisco.
If not, they may find players who were here playing elsewhere after 2025.