All 49ers

49ers Free Agent Mass Exodus Isn't Cause for Concern

The knee-jerk reaction is to panic seeing the mass exodus of free agents from the 49ers, but there shouldn't be much concern from it.
Dec 12, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) is congratulated by safety Talanoa Hufanga (29) after making a tackle against the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Dec 12, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) is congratulated by safety Talanoa Hufanga (29) after making a tackle against the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

In this story:


Apparently only an exit door exists for the 49ers.

That is if you're only looking at them through the lens of free agency. The 49ers have let countless starters and key players walk during free agency while abstaining from replacing them.

So many players are exiting, while hardly any are entering. A mass exodus occurred for the 49ers ever since they traded Deebo Samuel to the Commanders.

This mass exodus has caused panic, especially since the 49ers are hardly participating in free agency. They seem asleep at the wheel and it's because of their cash spending pullback.

The knee-jerk reaction is to panic and be concerned with this. However, the 49ers free agent mass exodus isn't cause for concern.

All of the players who have walked are ones the 49ers will not come to regret. Regardless of limiting cash spending or not, there is not a single player worth re-signing that the 49ers let depart.

Look at the contracts practically every player who has departed signed to. Aaron Banks signed for $77 million with the Packers. Talanoa Hufanga signed for $45 million with the Broncos.

Dre Greenlaw signed for $35 million with the Broncos. Charvarius Ward signed for $60 million with the Colts. These are high value deals that the 49ers weren't going to meet regardless of their financials.

Only Greenlaw was the one I could see the 49ers willing to spend more on if they weren't reeling it in this offseason. Besides him, everyone who walked is easy to stomach.

Ward essentially acknowledged at his exit interview in January that he is leaving the 49ers. He is another departure that stings but was expected the whole time.

I don't fully grasp the panic on the 49ers' lack of re-signing players. You can also point to the lack of signing new players, but this year's free agency pool stinks.

Should the 49ers spend money on players just because?

Not at all. That is largely why they are limiting spend this offseason because of that mindset.

So many contracts that have been dished out already look insane. D.J. Reed, who was linked to the 49ers because of Robert Saleh, signed a lucrative deal with the Lions.

Again, the 49ers were never reaching that number even if they didn't place cash restrictions this offseason. The same goes with almost every big name free agent signed.

This is a situation where the reaction is caused by what it looks like versus what it actually is. It's all about the superficial and not the true meaning.

Now, you can point out to the cuts the 49ers have made with Kyle Juszczyk, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd. All three were solid players last season.

However, it appears that the 49ers are making a clear shift to getting younger and resetting their books. If there is any offseason for the 49ers to do it, it is this one.

At the end of the day, the 49ers still have a handful of excellent players that will make them a viable playoff contender in 2025.

Patience is the name of the game right now until the 49ers' moves or lack thereof give a legitimate reason for it. For now, it isn't warranted.

Read more


Published
Jose Luis Sanchez III
JOSE SANCHEZ

Jose Luis Sanchez III has covered the San Francisco 49ers daily for FanNation since 2019. He started off as the lead publisher for FanNation's All49ers, then switched positions to become the Deputy Editor in 2020. Sanchez writes, edits, and produces videos daily for All49ers. He also co-hosts a show on YouTube with All49ers lead publisher Grant Cohn weekly. Prior to FanNation, Sanchez started his writing career back in 2016 for the school newspaper at Skyline college where he covered all sports team in the Bay Area. Following that from 2017 to 2019, he found a role as a contributor for FanSided's news desk along with their site's Just Blog Baby covering the Las Vegas Raiders and Golden Gate Sports every professional Bay Area sports team. Atop all of that, he was able to graduate with a Bachelors degree in Communication Studies at San Francisco State University in 2020. Sanchez is committed to ensuring he delivers transparent analysis and straightforward opinions that resonates with readers to get them thinking.

Share on XFollow JSanchezFN