The San Francisco 49ers had a disappointing season in 2024, finishing the year 6-11 and in last place in the NFC West. Of course, they were decimated by injuries on both sides of the ball, which played a major role in their struggles. All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey appeared in just four games due to injury, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk appeared in only seven games before tearing his ACL.
With their injured players expected to return healthy in 2025, the outlook is good for San Francisco to return to their competitive ways. However they are going to do so without several key players who left the team in free agency.
The San Francisco 49ers Have Lost Key Contributors in Free Agency
So far this offseason, San Francisco has seen several players, some of whom who were Pro Bowlers, released or signed elsewhere. Dre Greenlaw, for example, left the 49ers for the Denver Broncos so that he could make a better name for himself without playing alongside Fred Warner.
Additionally, left guard Aaron Banks was allowed to leave for the Green Bay Packers and a four-year $77 million deal.
Pro Bowl cornerback Charvarius Ward, who had said he needed a change of scenery after a terrible personal loss last year, signed with the Indianapolis Colts.
But while Ward was expected to leave, many others were not. And it turns out the reason they were not brought back is because of quarterback Brock Purdy’s looming extension.
The San Francisco 49ers Are Planning on Giving Brock Purdy a Massive Extension
Jed York, the owner of the 49ers, told reporters at the NFL owners meeting that the team had to make some tough decisions in free agency because of the extension that they are going to give Purdy.
“When you sit down with your guys and figure out where do you want to go, what do you want to build, when you make the decision that you want to pay a quarterback that has obviously been underpaid for his first three seasons in the NFL,” York said via Bleacher Report. “When you make that change, you have to make sacrifices somewhere. It’s a decision that we made collectively, and we’re hoping that we make somebody the highest-paid player in the history of our franchise.”
Because they plan on giving Purdy so much money, sacrifices had to be made.
More San Francisco 49ers News from Gridiron Heroics
- “There’s Motivation on Both Sides;” Brock Purdy’s Extension Gets Valuable Update on $60 Million Asking Price
- 49ers GM John Lynch Sounds Off on Brandon Aiyuk Trade Rumors
- 49ers Must Pursue Blockbuster Trade with Dolphins for $90 Million Star
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