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49ers Make Expected Move with Exclusive Rights Free Agents

This is standard procedure in every offseason.
Jose Sanchez|
Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Evan Anderson (69) wears a guardian cap on his helmet against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Evan Anderson (69) wears a guardian cap on his helmet against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers have made an expected move with their exclusive rights free agents (ERFA).

According to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap, the 49ers are tendering each of their exclusive rights free agents. That means these players will be back in 2025:

  • DT Evan Anderson
  • DE Alex Barrett
  • LB Jalen Graham
  • DE Sam Okuayinonu
  • OL Austen Pleasants
  • TE Jake Tonges
  • TE Brayden Willis

Exclusive rights free agents hardly have any bargaining power due to their lack of accrued seasons. So long as a team tenders a contract to them, they will be back. It's essentially a franchise tag for low-caliber players.

However, Evan Anderson is anything but low-caliber. He was the easiest player to decide on bringing back. Anderson was one of the few bright spots on the defensive, especially on the defensive line. The rest of the players are just for depth.

The 49ers can't let everyone go and it's not like they are giving these players much money in their tendered contracts either. This segment of the offseason is like American Idol. The 49ers either will say yes to a player or no and let them walk away.

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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.

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