Packers' latest free agency move denies 49ers of their best kick returner

The San Francisco 49ers probably expected the first of their pending free-agent wide receivers to find employment elsewhere would be Jauan Jennings, who had carved out quite the reputation as a go-to option and elite blocking presence.

Except Jennings, at least over the first day-plus of the two-day negotiating window ahead of the league new year, hasn't been touched yet. And first, it was veteran Kendrick Bourne who signed elsewhere.

Now, another receiver is departing the Bay Area, and it's still not Jennings.

According to a report from Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz, the Green Bay Packers are signing wide receiver Skyy Moore to a one-year deal:

While Moore wasn't a massive factor for San Francisco's offense last season, he did contribute extensively on special teams, particularly in the return game.

That might be a significant loss.

Skyy Moore's free-agent departure leaves 49ers with glaring hole on special teams

Granted, most teams have regular turnover on special teams on a year-to-year basis, and the 49ers weren't likely to give the 25 year old a hefty re-sign contract to stick around.

That said, and in light of the Niners' previous struggles in the return game prior to 2025, losing Moore might hurt more than imagined.

Moore averaged 27.5 yards per return on 98 kickoffs handled, and San Francisco's subsequent starting field position improved from an average of its own 29.2-yard line (24th best) to the 32.5-yard line (second best) a year later.

That improvement alone justified the 49ers' late-summer trade for Moore from the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now, the Niners will have to explore even more options in the return game, either via their own roster for the upcoming season or by taking a look at potential prospects with special teams abilities when the NFL Draft rolls around this April.

While it's not necessarily a huge loss, San Francisco will nevertheless feel it.