The 49ers aren't going to retain these three players this offseason, and fans will be more than happy to watch them go.
The San Francisco 49ers have experienced plenty of unceremonious departures over the years, including the most recent high-profile departure of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in 2023 when the Niners opted not to re-sign him after discovering fellow quarterback Brock Purdy that year.
Jimmy G, following a tumultuous and up-and-down tenure in San Francisco, hasn't exactly been welcomed back into the fanbase's arms after joining both the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams in subsequent years.
But that's only one such case of a player who likely overstayed his welcome in the Bay Area. With the 2024 regular season coming to a close, the 49ers are assuredly going to bid farewell to another crop of players this offseason.
And Niners fans will be more than happy to see some leave, especially these three.
No. 1: LB De'Vondre Campbell
San Francisco could have released linebacker De'Vondre Campbell following his shocking Week 15 decision to quit on his team mid-game against LA, and it would have appeased both the fanbase and the locker room.
Instead, the 49ers suspended Campbell for the rest of the regular season, which means he can't sign elsewhere and will be subject to fines, ultimately costing him more money in the long run.
Still on the roster, at least technically, Campbell is all but guaranteed not to return. The fact so many of his teammates have openly criticized his actions ensures that, and their voices will echo what fans are likely feeling toward the linebacker, too.
if Campbell does find a new team and somehow works his way back to Levi's Stadium in the future, his welcome will be, well... awfully cold.
No. 2: CB Ambry Thomas
Cornerback Ambry Thomas, the third-round pick from the 2021 NFL Draft, had an uphill fight to make the 53-man roster out of training camp, but he ultimately suffered a season-ending broken forearm during the preseason, effectively wiping out his 2024 campaign.
Thomas, who showed some promise late his rookie season but fell off in 2022 and 2023, is scheduled to hit the open market this offseason after essentialy turning into a forgotten commodity at the year's outset.
Considering the Niners extended fellow corner Deommodore Lenoir to a long-term deal and drafted defensive back Renardo Green last April, there's almost zero chance Thomas winds up returning to San Francisco even on the cheapest of deals.
Fans probably aren't going to complain about that whatsoever.
Update: The Niners just waived Ambry Thomas from injured reserve, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
No. 3: CB Isaac Yiadom
Unlike Thomas, veteran corner Isaac Yiadom did have an impact and probably played a role in pushing the former to the periphery of the depth chart prior to the aforementioned injury.
Despite flashing in camp and in the preseason, Yiadom hasn't exactly carried that momentum over into meaningful games, and the bulk of the fanbase hasn't exactly embraced his brief presence since joining as a free agent last offseason.
Even though Yiadom has held opposing quarterbacks to a career-best 73.4 passer rating when targeting him.
Still, all it takes is a quick search on Twitter/X to realize Yiadom is no fan-favorite, and he's another example of a player who won't be embraced by the fanbase on any level upon his departure.