The 3 Most Important Free Agents for the 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are now entering yet another offseason intending to build a team that gets them over the hump.
After another NFC Championship appearance and loss, the Niners must do whatever they can to keep their competitive window open and return to the Super Bowl. While that requires improvement in a few areas, some 49ers players are entering free agency this Spring that John Lynch must do his best to keep in order to maintain success.
Mike McGlinchey, OT
While this first free agent may not be a popular opinion, the 49ers don't have a viable replacement for McGlinchey on the roster. Letting him walk would lead to Colton McKivitz or Jalyon Moore taking his position, which would be a significant downgrade. There is also no clear upgrade available in free agency that would come at a reasonable price. Keeping McGlinchey for at least a few more years would be wise for the San Francisco.
Starting center Jake Brendel and utility lineman Daniel Brunskill are free agents this spring. So keeping McGlinchey to secure some continuity on the line would also be best for the young quarterbacks.
Jimmie Ward, S/CB
Jimmie Ward has been one of the cornerstones of the 49ers' defense for a few years now. Ward was voted by his peers as a top-100 player in the 2021-2022 season as a safety. This past season, the former first-round pick filled in at the nickel spot due to necessity and performed at a very high level.
Ward is getting up there in age, as he will be turning 32 years old this summer. However, his ability to play in multiple areas of the defense at a high level should allow the 49ers to continue their dominance on the defensive side of the ball and sure up the back end.
Emmanuel Moseley, CB
Moseley was having a great start to the season before tragically tearing his ACL in a game that was all but over in Carolina. Re-signing Moseley would secure the secondary and give the 49ers a chance to have Charvarius Ward and Moseley during the best years of their careers.
Assuming the 49ers were also able to retain Jimmie Ward, this move could allow the 49ers even more flexibility to use Ward at safety again if Deommodore Lenoir shows he can start at nickel next season. The issue will be the cost.
The silver-lining to Moseley's injury is that it may allow the 49ers to retain him on a cheaper deal than if he were to finish the season. San Francisco has invested in the cornerback position through the draft with Lenoir and Samuel Womack. Still, on the other side of Charvarius Ward, the team would feel most comfortable with Moseley locking up that side of the field.
The 49ers would likely need to restructure a few contracts to retain some of their key free agents. How much money will they be willing to push back to keep this roster together? Who do they believe they should let walk? We will learn more next month, but these three players are instrumental to their success.
