It's less than a week until the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis starts, and representatives of the San Francisco 49ers will soon be making their way to Lucas Oil Stadium. They won't be there just to scout college players who have declared for the NFL Draft but also to discuss and plan potential offseason moves.
There was a report this past week that Head Coach Kyle Shanahan would attend the combine. It's been years since he's done so. But 49ers reporter Matt Maiocco said on Friday that Shanahan will not attend. GM John Lynch and his team will be there, however.
We opened the 49ers Webzone Mailbag this week to see what's on your mind as the 49ers begin the offseason. The combine and free agency (which begins March 12) will give us plenty to discuss. After all, this team is never dull.
So, let's jump into the mailbag and see what we can find.
Which gets resolved first? The Deebo Samuel situation or the Brock Purdy contract? - Dave B.
If you had asked about this in early January, I would have said Brock Purdy would sign a new contract before anything else happened with the team. After all, the 49ers gave Jimmy Garoppolo a new contract in early February 2018. One significant difference, however, was that Garoppolo was about to become a free agent that March. Purdy is not.
Still, I believed the 49ers and Purdy would agree to a new deal in February, but here we are, with just a week left in the month and still no new Purdy news.
Until recently, no one knew about Deebo Samuel's request to be traded, so that wasn't on my radar. But now that it is, which gets resolved first—Purdy's new contract or Samuel's being traded or released? In January, I would have still predicted Purdy's deal would get resolved first. But now, I'm not so sure.
Suppose there is any truth to the rumors that Jed York, his parents, and other front office members are frustrated by some of the large contracts Lynch and Shanahan have given out. In that case, the Purdy situation could take longer than expected. Still, they should get a new deal done before the team begins its offseason program in April.
But if I had to bet on which would happen first, I now believe it will be the Samuel trade or release.
When does the Kittle contract happen? Don't you feel they will cut Deebo rather than trade? That's a big hit for a 5/6 rd pick - easier to designate a June 1st cut? - Lowbridge
The 49ers will give George Kittle a new contract sometime this offseason. If they stay on brand, it will happen right before or during training camp. But if they've learned from their recent history, it might behoove them to do something this spring.
Regarding Samuel being traded versus being cut, if the 49ers can get something for him, they should try to do that. The dead cap money will happen regardless of how he leaves the team. And they should still be able to designate it post-June 1st if necessary.
Considering the 49ers' success with drafting in the fifth round, they may be able to land another good player with that pick. So, I would prefer to trade Samuel and get something for him rather than simply cutting him.
DLine & Oline are pressing needs! IF Mason Graham, Mykel Williams, Will Campbell, or Kelvin Banks were available at no. 11, who would you take? - Johnny Y.
I don't watch enough college football these days to give a good response regarding potential draft picks. So I reached out to my friend and co-host, Anthony Robertson, of 49ers Cutback, for his thoughts. Robertson told me, "Mason Graham would be the pick if available at 11. He is one of the true blue-chip players in the draft and would be a game-changer for the 49ers at DT."
I'm familiar enough with the named players to agree with Robertson, and I trust his analysis. If those players are available, the 49ers will prioritize the defensive line. However, it doesn't sound likely that Graham will be available at pick 11. Would the 49ers be willing to take Mykel Williams at that spot?
Even though the 49ers will go defensive line in the first round, I wouldn't be shocked if they went offensive tackle. But what if they threw us a curveball and went with an offensive skill player, like Penn State tight end Tyler Warren? Imagine him paired with Kittle. It seems unlikely, but with the 49ers potentially losing Samuel and perhaps being without Brandon Aiyuk, Warren may be the best pick at 11.
What's a realistic trade haul for Deebo? I don't see us getting much now that he's made his request trade public. Anything is better than nothing. - Andy G.
I agree that anything is better than nothing for Samuel. I don't know how realistic it is to get a day-two pick for a player who didn't look like the same guy for much of the 2024 season. But a day-three pick is doable, and as I mentioned earlier, the 49ers have had a lot of success in the fifth round, drafting starters like Kittle, D.J. Reed, Dre Greenlaw, Colton McKivitz, Talanoa Hufanga, and Deommodore Lenoir.
Without question, I would trade Samuel for a player like Kittle, Greenlaw, or Lenoir.
In your estimation, how much roster remodeling should be done, and better yet, will probably get done with the 49ers from now until the draft? - Ed H.
They will fill some holes between now and the draft. Depending on what happens with Greenlaw, they may need to bring in another linebacker. Charvarius Ward won't be back, so the 49ers might need to find another corner to join Lenoir and Renardo Green. However, the defensive line will be the most significant focal point. They need defensive tackles who can stop the run, and it would be nice if they could add an edge rusher to compliment Nick Bosa.
Offensively, they need to figure out what they will do at wide receiver if Samuel is elsewhere. Again, Aiyuk may not be ready for the start of the season, and when he does return, he likely won't be the 2023 version of himself. The 49ers might be compelled to grab another receiver.
The center position needs to be different in 2025. Jake Brendel is reliable, but he's the weak link of the offense. I'd love to see Drew Dalman sign with the 49ers. He's soon to be a free-agent center from the Atlanta Falcons and the son of former 49ers offensive lineman Chris Dalman. He would be an immediate upgrade from Brendel.
Since Deebo will be out, what do you think the 49ers will do? Will they draft a receiver, or sign one in Free agency? - Sasha R.
They may do both. They'll sign a wide receiver in free agency, though it won't likely be a big name or a big trade. They can't afford to pay big money to another wide receiver, especially with a probable dead cap hit from Samuel.
They may also draft a wide receiver, but it won't be within the first few rounds—think day three.
Is it smarter to go offensive tackle or edge at 11, and grab a defensive tackle later, maybe even after a trade-up? It seems like Membou and the Mike Greens of the world drop off quickly to good guys, not pro bowlers. - Nick E.
I don't believe there will be an offensive tackle at 11 that makes the 49ers pull the trigger on the position. So that leaves defensive tackle and edge. I've already mentioned that defense will be the choice in round one. In fact, defense may be the choice for the first few picks the 49ers make. Their defense was terrible in 2024, and it wasn't only because of Nick Sorensen. With Greenlaw, Hufanga, and Ward potentially gone and Javon Hargrave already gone, the 49ers will have plenty of holes to fill on defense.
So back to Nick's question about taking an edge rusher at 11, and then drafting a defensive tackle later. It comes down to who the best player is available. If the better player is an edge rusher, take him. If it's a defensive tackle, then that's your choice. The 49ers need a difference-maker at 11. So, the wiser decision lies in whoever you deem is the most impactful player for your team.
What should the 49ers do at the WR position? Normally, it would be a strong group on paper and for the foreseeable future. However, Aiyuk could miss most (if not all) of the 2025 season, and Jennings is in the final year of his contract. - ShoqMax
The 49ers need to find a way to extend Jauan Jennings, but I'm not sure how easy that will be, especially after the season he just had. Jennings was the 49ers' best wide receiver in 2024 and likely will be in 2025. Ricky Pearsall may take a big step forward in his second season. And if Jacob Cowing can get a little stronger and improve as a blocker (something receivers must do in Shanahan's offense), then the wide receiver group won't be as much of a question as it is right now.
I've already mentioned that the 49ers will add someone in free agency and the draft. And if they veer away from a defensive pick in round one, they may take Warren. If your wide receiver group isn't as deep, you can improve your tight end room and still have a potent offense—just a thought.
By now we all know who are set to become free agents, and are priorities to try to keep. Obviously, this largely depends on our success there, but…what are some names, on both sides of the ball, who you envision the team trying to target in Free Agency? - Will S.
I'd like to see the 49ers sign Dalman on offense and D.J. Jones on defense. They must improve the center position and find defensive linemen who can stop the run. Those two upgrades would help the 49ers run the ball in short-yardage situations and prevent teams from running all over them.
That's all we have for this week's edition of the 49ers Webzone Mailbag. We'll return with a new mailbag around the start of free agency.