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[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers 90-in-90: Demarcus Robinson has a chance to be the most important newcomer on offense

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Breaking down the 90 players on the 49ers’ offseason roster in 90 posts (over 90 or so days). Today is wide receiver Demarcus Robinson

The San Francisco 49ers signed Demarcus Robinson this offseason, despite knowing the veteran was facing a “likely” three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy related to a DUI arrest from November 2024, where Robinson was arrested for speeding and driving under the influence.

If Robinson’s suspension holds up, that means he’ll miss two divisional games and leave the 49ers with only Jauan Jennings as an established veteran among the receiver core. While Robinson’s absence would be a temporary blow to a team getting used to not having Deebo Samuel and still without the services of Brandon Aiyuk, nobody would confuse Seattle, New Orleans, or Arizona for an elite secondary.

San Francisco signed Robinson to make an impact for 17 games. The good news is that he can still, even if he misses September.

Basic Info​

Age: 31

Experience: 9 accrued seasons

Height: 6’1

Weight: 203 pounds

Cap Status​

Robinson signed a two-year deal with the 49ers this offseason worth $8 million, including $6 million fully guaranteed. That would be the largest contract Robinson signed as a pro, and double the amount that the Los Angeles Rams gave him in 2024.

Robinson has a signing bonus of $2.32 million as well as an option bonus of $2.09 million. The 49ers added four ghost years onto Robinson’s deal to help with cap purposes. So, he’ll earn $464,000 of that signing bonus through 2029, and $418,000 of his signing bonus, which will be paid through 2030.

What will be Robinson’s role?​

Kyle Shanahan isn’t going to reinvent the wheel with Robinson. He had a career high in receiving yards last season under Sean McVay. The prevailing thought might be due to injuries to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, but some of Robinson’s most targeted games happened when those two were in the lineup.

Robinson’s best game of the season came in Week 9 on the road against Seattle, when both Nacua and Kupp were in the lineup. Robinson had six receptions on eight targets for 94 yards and two touchdowns against the Seahawks.

One area where Robinson should certainly help the Niners is in the red zone. He caught five of his ten targets — which were second on the team — last season, and each of those resulted in touchdowns. The one area where the Niners' wide receivers struggled the most last season was when they got inside the 20-yard line.

Here’s a video of every target Robinson had against the NFC West in 2024. He ran just about everything, from shallow crossing routes to double moves down the field. That’s important so defenses don’t get to key on a singular route.

Not only does Robinson bring the threat of winning in the red zone, but he also proved that he can win at every level with the Rams. If I were to critique one part of his game, it’s winning after the catch on underneath routes.

Shanahan knows his personnel. Players like Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, and Jordan Watkins all excel at creating after the catch. There’s no need to pepper targets to Robinson underneath since that’s not his strong suit.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...-to-be-the-most-important-newcomer-on-offense

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: Kyle is diabolical

Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Wednesday, July 9th, 2025

49ers’ Brock Purdy: The moment Kyle Shanahan panicked him during 2022 cutdowns

“We’re in the quarterback room, and then Kyle opened up the door,” Purdy recalled. “He goes, ‘Hey, Brock, can you grab your stuff and come talk to me?’ I was like, ‘Bro.’ I was like, ‘Am I getting cut?’ I was like, ‘Dang, dude.’”

“And then he goes, ‘No, I’m kidding. Set your stuff down,’” Purdy said. “He’s like, ‘Congrats, bro,’ and then dapped me up.”

Purdy added, “I was like, dude, my heart was pounding.”

‘I need my binky’: 49ers’ Brock Purdy reveals Trent Williams’ impact—and his funny Toyota tale

“He does this ninja move thing, and then pushes guys in the ground,” Purdy said. “And then, outside of that, just pass [protection] and stuff, he’s locked down over there. And so, year after year, for me, blindside as a quarterback, right-handed quarterback, knowing that my left side is good, I can’t even describe to you. It’s like a sense of freedom.....He’s like my little safety blanket,” Purdy said with a laugh. “I’m like, ‘I need my binky and I need him to be in the game.’”

....

“I literally went up to him and I was like, ‘Hey, dude, Toyota’s helping us out. We got 10 of them for all the O-linemen and stuff. Just curious, do you still want yours or not?’” Purdy said. “And he’s like, ‘Hell, yeah.’ He’s like, ‘I’ll paint that thing pink.’ And I’m like, ‘All right.’

“But then, sure enough, he forgets about it somehow. Everyone gets their cars and stuff, and they’re like, ‘Trent, what’d you think about yours?’ And he’s like, ‘Brock, what did I get? A truck or a car?’ And I was like, ‘Bro, Trent doesn’t even know.’”

49ers legend draws comparison between Brock Purdy and Joe Montana

“Joe Montana was, in my mind, the greatest processor that I’ve ever seen,” Jones told Haberman. “He knew where he was going to go with the ball. And it could be the fifth read on a play, but he knew instantaneously that it was going to that guy just because of the way the defense ended up moving or checking or bouncing. He’d read it immediately, no matter what, and he knew where he was going with the ball a majority of the time.”

“What I started to see early on in Brock’s career was, man, he processes fast, and gets rid of the ball, and is accurate, and a lot of times, hits the open man,” Jones shared. “And I think it’s been fantastic to watch him......You don’t have to have the strongest arm in the NFL, and his arm is plenty strong,” Jones added. “But Joe wasn’t [John] Elway or Jim Kelly or Dan Marino [when it came to arm strength], but he’s the one with all the Super Bowl rings. And it’s because his anticipation and his accuracy and his ability to read the defenses were unlike anybody that I’ve ever seen.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...ning-camp-offseason-trent-williams-toyota-nfl

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Which player will the 49ers miss the most this season?

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The 49ers had plenty of roster turnover this offseason. But which player who didn’t return will they miss the most?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in San Francisco 49ers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

You wouldn’t be wrong if you said the San Francisco 49ers cleaned house this offseason. It sure felt that way with multiple departures along the defensive line, and a couple of players who struggled with injury saw their contracts not renewed.

Today, you’ll vote for one of five players who left this offseason. One of them was traded and plays a position that you can never have enough depth at. Now that Jordan Mason plays for the Minnesota Vikings, I fully expect him to stay healthy all season and rush for 1,200 yards. What Mason fails to provide in the passing game will be supplemented by Aaron Jones.

The 49ers are hoping Isaac Guerendo stays healthy in 2025 and Jordan James can produce as a rookie. Ideally, Christian McCaffrey never misses a game, and both players will remain role players. That’s the outcome in which the Niners wouldn’t miss Mason.

Deebo Samuel is the most notable name and likely the most popular answer. Fans soured on him after a brutal drop in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams that would have resulted in a touchdown and a potential season-altering outcome. Samuel seemingly always came up with a much-needed explosive play when the offense needed it most during his tenure in San Francisco.

The additions of Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, and now Jordan Watkins can all replace Samuel’s 2024 production at a fraction of his salary. That’s what Kyle Shanahan is hoping for, at least.

Aaron Banks was a starter for much of his rookie contract. He’s listed for consistency purposes. The last thing 49ers fans should take for granted is somebody who was on the field consistently during his time in San Francisco.

The lore of Dre Greenlaw was never higher after he missed three quarters of the Super Bowl. You could see his impact in one half against the Rams last season. The 49ers attempted to re-sign Greenlaw, but will now roll with Nick Martin and Dee Winters, now that Dre is in Denver.

Lastly, Talanoa Hufanga is on the list. The playmaking Hufanga showcased early in his career was awesome. The 49ers never recaptured that magic with Hufanga after he battled multiple injuries. It wasn’t all that surprising to see Hufanga not re-signed, but the depth at safety remains a concern, especially with Malik Mustapha’s injury.

Which player do you think the 49ers will miss the most? Vote below, then scroll down and let us know in the comments.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...muel-aaron-banks-dre-greenlaw-talanoa0hufanga

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: Brock’s answering the hard-hitting questions

Photo by Bruce Yeung/Getty Images

Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Thursday, July 10th, 2025

‘I would go to prison’: 49ers’ Brock Purdy reveals extreme measure he’d take to win a Super Bowl

“Purdy also declined the idea of cutting off his foot to guarantee a championship. But once he heard about Kittle’s prison-for-a-ring stance, the same scenario was posed to him.

“I would go to prison for a year, yes,” Purdy admitted. “I don’t want to cut off any limbs because after that year, I’d like to get back, and hopefully go chase more.”

49ers WR Demarcus Robinson sentenced in DUI case, potential suspension still looms

“Court records show that Robinson entered a no contest (nolo contendere) plea to one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol. The judge sentenced him to 36 months of probation and imposed a $390 fine.

“As part of the pact with prosecutors, he also must complete several programs, including a MADD victim impact program,” TMZ reported.

Robinson’s attorney, Jacqueline Sparagna, stated: “Mr. Robinson has taken this process extremely seriously by already completing most of the terms of his probation. We expect that his probation will terminate early at the 18-month mark, after which his case will be expunged.”.... Robinson’s status for the start of the season remains uncertain as the NFL continues to deliberate a potential three-game suspension related to the DUI incident. With the legal process now finalized, a decision from the league could soon follow.”

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...shanahan-demarcus-robinson-dui-suspension-nfl

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Golden Nuggets: Less than two weeks til open practice

Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Friday, July 11th, 2025

49ers insider: Brandon Aiyuk has ‘a chance’ to be ready for Week 1

“They want to be extra cautious with him,” Maiocco explained. “Even though the timeline, everything being equal, might point toward, hey, there’s a chance Week 1, and there still might be a chance Week 1, I think the feeling inside the organization has always been don’t take any chances, start him off on PUP when they report to training camp on July 22, and then more than likely, just have that carry over into the regular season.”

While Aiyuk remains likely to miss at least the first four games of the season, the positive updates are encouraging for fans worried that the team could be without one of its top offensive weapons for an extended period.

“And then, it’s quite possible that he could be ready Week 5 or Week 6, getting up to speed quickly,” Maiocco added. “But everything I’m hearing is that things are looking good, and that the progress is even ahead of where the markers were that the 49ers put on him when he had that surgery.”

Matt Ryan highlights 49ers QB Brock Purdy’s underrated traits, addresses contract criticism

“I think his ability to throw the football over the middle of the field, that’s huge for them and fits within the scheme and what they do,” Ryan told Maiocco. “He’s a really good athlete; I think underrated, in terms of mobility, but also accuracy on the run. The ability to be accurate in the intermediate passing game, moving around — that fits with how Kyle wants to run the football........It’s nice to have a big arm — no question about it. … But those [big] plays rarely come up,” Ryan explained. “They might be two, three, four times a game. Your bread is buttered, particularly in [San Francisco’s] system, in the intermediate passing game, and getting the ball out of your hand quickly and having trust in guys to be where they’re supposed to be.

“And I think [Purdy’s] vision, anticipation, and accuracy fits really well with that.”

49ers announce 11 open training camp practice dates for 2025

• Wednesday, July 23
• Thursday, July 24*
• Friday, July 25
• Sunday, July 27
• Monday, July 28
• Tuesday, July 29
• Monday, August 4
• Tuesday, August 5
• Thursday, August 7*
• Monday, August 11
• Tuesday, August 12”

49ers’ George Kittle catches passes, smacks shots, muses on season ahead (paywall)

“You forget Tahoe is in California,” Kittle said as he walked down the No. 16 fairway, on the Nevada side of the lake. Reminded he was technically in Nevada, and merely gazing at California, he added, “It makes no sense to me that there’s a state line in the middle of the lake. That’s crazy.”

49ers’ George Kittle is enjoying his golf debut, eagerly awaiting training camp (paywall)

“Kittle jumped in the lake at 6 a.m. to wake himself up and get ready for his 7:45 tee time. While his only goal on the course this weekend is to finish ahead of Charles Barkley, he also hopes to tackle WWE nemesis The Miz when he sees him — and he teased a possible Taylor Swift appearance(Travis Kelce is also playing in the event).

“She probably wouldn’t be able to walk around,” due to the crowds, Kittle said. “She would probably be in a helicopter.”

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...podcast-training-camp-open-dates-practice-nfl

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Name one player on the 49ers to root for in 2025

Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

Christian McCaffrey? Ricky Pearsall? Fred Warner? Brock Purdy? Who?

The San Francisco 49ers have consistently acquired a good deal of likable players. We don’t need to bring up all the swooning around here when Jimmy Garoppolo was a quarterback. So we all have players we want to root for. Maybe the story behind them, proving fans of other teams wrong, or whatever your reason is.

NFL.com’s Tom Blair put together a list where he named one player from each team in the NFL to root for. Like the 49ers, there are teams where it’s hard to find just one guy to root for on a roster of 53 players.

The 49ers don’t have the character issues we’ve seen when Trent Baalke was running things, so once again, they are one of those teams where singling someone out is difficult. Blair picked Christian McCaffrey as his 49ers player to root for

I know McCaffrey doesn’t really need a boost in the fan department. This is more about a certain level of greediness I’m feeling about one of the most prolific offensive talents of our time. McCaffrey has topped 1,800 scrimmage yards in four separate seasons, a total surpassed by just four other players in NFL history (Hall of Famers Walter Payton, LaDainian Tomlinson, Marshall Faulk and Emmitt Smith). He did it as recently as 2023, when he hit the 2k mark for the second time — then lost most of last season to injuries, finishing with less than 100 touches for the first time in his career. Maybe 2024 was just a natural step-down from such a high workload, and he’ll easily bounce back again, just as he did following a similar blip in production following his first 2,000-scrimmage-yard effort, in 2019 with the Panthers. Then again, he’s 29 now, with that much more mileage on his legs. Knowing how time and age generally work, it would be great to get to watch at least one more mega-wattage McCaffrey campaign.

I can’t argue with McCaffrey as the guy to root for. Getting sidelined for the length of time he was in 2024 had to be horrible. Plus, his attitude off the field deserves a medal. The 49ers haven’t had to worry a second about him or any antics he could get into.

That said, my pick for player to root for isn’t McCaffrey, it’s wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. Around this time last year, Pearsall was showing some good things when training camp started. At the end of August, he suffered a gunshot wound to the chest during a failed robbery attempt. The incident derailed his rookie season and could have ruined his career. Instead, Pearsall came back and turned a lot of heads with the limited time he had.

There are a lot of things we can say come with the territory of being a professional athlete, getting shot in the chest is a gig nobody should be in line for. Especially if it’s in your inaugural season as a rookie, there’s enough you have to worry about coming into a professional sports league—gunshots shouldn’t be added to that list.

The fact that Pearsall returned and played at a high level should be enough for any naysayers against his drafting to change their tune. But he deserves a whole season to show what he can be. He has the opportunity. With Deebo Samuel shipped off to the Washington Commanders and Brandon Aiyuk’s return still up in the air, Pearsall can show he’s the future. Both his play and resistance helped him earn that opportunity. Well, to me, anyway.

What is the one player you are rooting for on the 49ers?

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7/12/24466071/49ers-roster-player-to-root-for

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

An old 49ers’ nemesis predicts the team goes 9-8 for 2025

Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images

Adam Rank became a meme with his 3-13 prediction for the 49ers in 2019. Now he has them going 9-8, do you agree?

If you were around these parts in 2019, you might remember a sort of running gag going on with the San Francisco 49ers. They had a lot of people saying they weren’t going to do much in the 2019 season, but no one got the pure vitriol and fan backlash than one Adam Rank.

I certainly didn’t make things any better, posting his infamous 3-13 prediction after every 49ers win that season. Rank was a good sport about it, though, and engaged with the fans, made jokes about himself and the prediction, and proved to be a class act where other analysts could get defensive over something that is just trivial at the end.

With that in mind, his predictions are something that we have to illustrate around here. There’s probably more predictions on the NFL season records than there are drops of water in the ocean, but given his history with us, Adam Rank’s prediction deserves mention.

This year, Rank has the 49ers going 9-8 and getting back on track, so to speak. Here’s his prediction:

Week 1: at Seattle Seahawks - Loss
Week 2: at New Orleans Saints - Win
Week 3: vs. Arizona Cardinals - Win
Week 4: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars - Win
Week 5: at Los Angeles Rams - Loss
Week 6: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Loss
Week 7: vs. Atlanta Falcons - Win
Week 8: at Houston Texans - Loss
Week 9: at New York Giants - Win
Week 10: vs. Los Angeles Rams - Loss
Week 11: at Arizona Cardinals - Loss
Week 12: vs Carolina Panthers - Win
Week 13: at Cleveland Browns - Win
Week 14: BYE
Week 15: vs. Tennessee Titans - Win
Week 16: at Indianapolis Colts - Loss
Week 17: at Chicago Bears - Loss
Week 18: vs. Seattle Seahawks - Win

So 9-8 and what Rank calls “bouncing back.”

A couple of things with this: first, Rank has the 49ers taking losses to the Rams. I don’t know how all of a sudden Sean McVay got this “better coach than Kyle Shanahan” or the “Rams play the 49ers tougher” talk with everyone, because right up until the end of the 2023 season, the 49ers beating the Rams was a punchline. And the loss suffered at the end of that aforementioned 2023 season was one where they were playing the backups because playoff seeding was already solidified.

Yes, the Rams beat the 49ers to go onto the Super Bowl one season, but they had also been beaten by the likes of Nick Mullens before. This isn’t some single Seattle Seahawks regular-season blowout I’m hanging my hat on. I’m just saying the 49ers have racked up wins against the Rams for a while.

Starting in 2019, Shanahan had the roster turned around and Jimmy Garoppolo healthy, and up to 2023 in the regular season with 10 contests between them, there was only one (1) Rams win. Again: Nick Mullens beat the Rams once. So he’s beaten the Rams just as many times as they’ve beaten the 49ers up to 2024. Kyle Shanahan is 10-4 against the Rams. Sorry, I just don’t get it.

And if your response is “The 49ers always got the Rams when they were injured/on the skid/etc,” what the hell were the 49ers for all of 2024? That’s some “Brock Purdy isn’t a good quarterback unless the system is good” rhetoric right there.

In 2024, the Rams beat the 49ers twice. Yippie! One game had Ronnie Bell dropping passes and Jake Moody missing kicks, while the other had Deebo Samuel forget he was Deebo Samuel.

2025 has two games against the Rams I think the 49ers can win.

Ok, now that I have that out of my system, second: While I’m curbing expectations this year with how young that team is, 9-7 would be disappointing. At least, how this reads on paper in July.

Don’t misunderstand here: I think a playoff appearance is a very successful season. Winning in the playoffs is another story. I also don’t see the 49ers losing to the Bears. So now we’re 12-5. The 49ers aren’t going 17-0, that much is certain. And they do have a very easy schedule—on paper. We don’t know who in the NFL will get hot in July, but the 49ers should be cracking double digits with this schedule, provided the injury bug doesn’t come to say hello.

The postseason opponents will (obviously) be light years better than the schedule the 49ers get, which is why I think the playoffs will be a different beast, as they usually are. And yes, I do think some losses come from some youthful boneheaded decisions. But 9-8? Ehhhhhh, I dunno about that.

Regardless, Rank is saving himself a lot of memes by giving the 49ers a winning season. Of course, I’m sure once they beat the Seahawks in Week 1, it starts all over again.

What do you think of this one?

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...s-nemesis-predicts-the-team-goes-9-8-for-2025

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers need to make sure Brock Purdy’s freedom isn’t solely dependent on one All-Pro in 2025

Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

Trent Williams is the star of the 49ers’ O-Line, but there’s a strong case to be made that the group up front is too reliant on the future Hall of Famer.

Perhaps unsurprisingly following a season in which he missed seven games due to an ankle injury, Trent Williams’ reputation as the premier tackle in football has slipped in the eyes of many.

Jeremy Fowler’s annual poll of NFL executives, coaches and scouts ranking the top 10 players at each position for ESPN saw Williams ranked fourth among offensive tackles. Williams was ranked first in the same poll after the 2023 campaign.

Still, in explaining Williams’ drop-off, Fowler revealed a stat that illustrated why the All-Pro left tackle remains critically important to San Francisco’s hopes of success in 2025.

In his blurb on Williams, Fowler wrote in part: “Williams allowed an average time to pressure of 3.78 seconds last season, per Next Gen Stats, the longest among left tackles with at least 25 pressures allowed.”

Simply put, Williams rarely allowed pressure and, when he did, he still managed to afford Brock Purdy a considerable amount of time to throw.

Purdy recently articulated what it is like having Williams protecting him in an appearance on the ‘Bussin’ with the Boys’ podcast.

He said of Williams:

“He does this ninja move thing, and then pushes guys in the ground. And then, outside of that, just pass [protection] and stuff, he’s locked down over there. And so, year after year, for me, blindside as a quarterback, right-handed quarterback, knowing that my left side is good, I can’t even describe to you. It’s like a sense of freedom.”

Purdy held the ball much longer last season as the 49ers transitioned to a more dropback-heavy passing attack in 2024. He was often guilty of holding the ball too long, but it was clear his process was rapidly sped up down the stretch when Williams was sidelined.

Indeed, per Pro Football Focus, Purdy’s average time to throw from Week 1 to Week 10 was 3.15 seconds. Only Jalen Hurts (3.16) had a longer time to throw among quarterbacks with a minimum of 100 dropbacks in that span.

Between Weeks 11 and 18, Purdy’s time to throw decreased to 2.7 seconds, the ninth-quickest average in the league (min. 100 dropbacks).

The 49er passing game since Shanahan took the helm in 2017 has primarily put the onus on the quarterback to process efficiently and get the ball out quickly to playmakers who can create after the catch.

Processing efficiently is still extremely important, but with more of an emphasis on attacking downfield with dropback concepts, the freedom Williams gives Purdy takes on a greater importance.

But, for the 49er passing game to bounce back in 2025 after a dip in 2024, San Francisco will ideally need others on the offensive line to step up and ensure that freedom is not entirely dependent on Williams’ health and his stellar play in pass protection.

San Francisco is set to start a new left guard, which will likely be Ben Bartch, in 2025, while Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni and Colton McKivitz will all be expected to stay in their respective positions at center, right guard and right tackle. The 49ers will be hopeful of Puni taking a step forward after a promising rookie year in 2024.

If the 49ers get that progress from Puni and the positive flashes Bartch has shown in limited playing time translate into strong performances over the course of a full season, the 49ers’ line will be in much better shape to give Purdy the platform he needs to thrive throwing the ball this season.

Williams remains the most important piece on the O-Line, a player who elevates the entire group around him with his play. However, San Francisco’s fortunes up front can’t be entirely dependent on him. The focus this offseason in terms of additions has been on the other side of the trenches, but the development of the O-Line into a more reliable all-round group figures to be just as crucial to the 49ers’ prospects of contending in the NFC this year.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...rock-purdy-freedom-dependent-one-all-pro-2025

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers legend feels the team added ‘too many pieces’ this offseason

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The 49ers kickstarted their youth movement this offseason. Was it the right move?

The San Francisco 49ers had a different type of offseason in 2025 than in years past, electing against making many splashy moves and instead looking to get younger at several positions.

That meant releasing veteran starters like Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd, while also trading away wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Then came free agency, where the 49ers let linebacker Dre Greenlaw, cornerback Charvarius Ward, guard Aaron Banks, safety Talanoa Hufanga, and other starters walk.

In return, the 49ers didn’t make many splashy moves, with their two biggest signings being backup tight end Luke Farrell (three years, $15.75 million) and backup quarterback Mac Jones (2 years, $8.41 million).

San Francisco did heavily focus on the draft, however, making 11 selections, with Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams being the headliner at No. 11 overall.

As it stands, the 49ers are likely looking to rely on several rookies this season, as they transition into a new window and hope to return to contention in the NFC.

Was the strategy to go younger the right move? One 49ers legend had some reservations.

Speaking to The Bay Area News Group’s Cam Inman, Jerry Rice shared his thoughts on San Francisco’s offseason, acknowledging he felt they went too young.

“I just feel like we added on too many pieces,” Rice said. “The reason why I say that is these guys are young guys. Super Bowl 60 is going to be here in San Francisco. I would have preferred to sort of leave everything like last year, add on to that, and have a chance for this coming year.”

“[It’s] a lot of young guys. Now, can Kyle Shanahan pull it together and can these guys jell? We have to wait and see. But there’s this big question mark if it’s going to work. I’m always going to go Niners no matter what. But we’re bringing in so many young players. It’s going to take a while for that team to jell. If it doesn’t happen this year, then maybe the next couple of years.”

Now, Rice was optimistic about the team’s defense, despite the number of moving parts, thanks to the return of esteemed defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.

“I feel like you win championships with defense,” Rice continued. “Maybe that’s why they brought Robert [Saleh] back. If that defense can get rolling like it did the last couple of years when he was around, I think we have a legitimate chance.”

Ultimately, there is still optimism around the 49ers in 2025, but much of it is in wait-and-see mode with how quickly the team is able to come together with the younger pieces.

One serious question the 49ers will have to deal with ahead of the season is the status of their wide receiver position after current No. 1 option, Jauan Jennings, publicly expressed his desire for a new contract on Monday.

Without Jennings, San Francisco would have an even younger wide receiver room, as Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from the torn ACL and MCL he sustained last October. Currently, Jennings and 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall are slated to lead the room to kick off the 2025 season.

The 49ers have the potential to surprise people in 2025 and return as a top contender in the NFC. But, in order to do that, there are several questions to be answered, both on and off the field.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...-niners-added-too-many-young-pieces-offseason

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Can you guess this 49ers center in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Niners player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Niners Nation! We’re back for another day of the Niners Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Niners Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Monday, July 14, 2025
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Saturday, July 12, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

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Niners Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct 49ers player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7/15/24468164/sb-nation-49ers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

Who will be the next man up for the 49ers if Jauan Jennings is traded?

Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The 49ers wide receiver wants a new contract.

Just when it seemed the San Francisco 49ers would get through a drama-free offseason, reality struck once again.

Wide receiver Jauan Jennings publicly expressed his desire for a new contract on Monday, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting that the wideout would demand a trade if one’s not in place by training camp.

Jennings is in the second year of a two-year, $15.4 million extension he signed last offseason. He has a $1.17 million salary this season.

Jennings’s request comes on the verge of a lot of movement at the wide receiver position this offseason. The 49ers traded Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders back in March, signed DeMarcus Robinson on a one-year deal, and drafted Jordan Watkins and Junior Bergen.

In addition to that, they still have star Brandon Aiyuk, who is recovering from the torn ACL and MCL injuries he sustained last October. Aiyuk is expected to miss the start of the season, with the Physically Unable to Play (PUP) list being a possibility.

All of the movement makes Jennings the current No. 1 wide receiver for the 49ers, with 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall filling in as the No. 2 in place of Samuel.

Behind the duo, San Francisco doesn’t have much experience with Aiyuk still rehabbing. Also, Robinson is expected to be suspended for three games due to a DUI arrest last year.

That provides Jennings with some leverage to make his demand, as the 49ers valued his breakout campaign in 2024, when the wideout caught 77 passes for 975 yards and six touchdowns.

Given the continuously improving market for wide receivers, Jennings could ask for a new contract worth $15 million annually, which the 49ers may not accommodate, given their commitment to Aiyuk and Pearsall.

So, in the off chance Jennings is traded, who would be the next man up for the 49ers?

Ricky Pearsall​

Immediately, the thought goes to Ricky Pearsall, who was expected to take on a bigger role in Year 2.

Pearsall flashed, especially near the end of the season, when he caught eight passes for 141 yards and a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in Week 17, and six passes for 69 yards against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18.

He finished the season with 31 catches for 400 yards and three scores, with over half of that production coming in the final two weeks.

The start of his rookie campaign was derailed by injuries and a shooting incident, but the hope was that he’d be fully healthy for the entire 2025 offseason.

Unfortunately, he has dealt with another injury, causing him to miss minicamp, but he should be a full go for training camp. Injuries are a factor to watch, but Pearsall is the prime candidate to step up if Jennings is traded.

Jacob Cowing​

The receiver getting the most buzz this offseason has been Jacob Cowing, who has been lauded by coaches and teammates for his work ethic and improvements over the past few months.

Cowing, who stands 5’9, 171 pounds, is an unusual fit in San Francisco’s offense because of his size, which naturally mitigates his blocking ability. But, he has good twitchiness and speed that allows him to get open, and the rapport with Brock Purdy is seemingly coming together this offseason.

Cowing would be a natural Jennings replacement because he’s a slot-only wideout. However, he will need to become stronger and work well in the run game to fit in a Kyle Shanahan offense.

Jordan Watkins​

Perhaps a surprise name to kick off the offseason, fifth-round pick Jordan Watkins could make a quick ascent up the depth chart if Jennings isn't on the team in 2025.

Watkins also flashed early in the offseason, drawing the eyes of his coaches and teammates, with Brock Purdy raving about the rookie back in June.

“He’s balling, man,” Purdy said. “Jordan Watkins has been balling from day one, really. He’s come in and has done everything pretty right, and he’s been on point. I mean, he’s had a lot of explosive plays down the field, and obviously, in the short game, the intermediate. He’s making plays all around.

“I’m excited for him. Obviously, we know it’s a process throughout this whole thing, from OTAs to the 40 days away to camp. I know he knows that, but I’m really excited to keep working with him, and for him to keep learning our offense and how we do things. But definitely a rookie that has popped out in front of everybody.”

With rookies, it’s tough to get on the field early in a Shanahan offense, but Watkins seems to have the confidence, and his speed is a big boost. At 5’11, 196 pounds, he could be a fit in the slot or on the outside, but, like with Cowing, blocking will be a factor to watch.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7...e-request-ricky-pearsall-brock-purdy-shanahan

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers trivia: Your in-5 daily game, Wednesday edition

Think you can figure out which Niners player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Niners Nation! We’re back for another day of the Niners Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Niners Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Monday, July 14, 2025
Sunday, July 13, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Niners Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct 49ers player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/7/16/24468747/sb-nation-49ers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers practice squad, waiver wire tracker: Kendrick Bourne has been released

It’ll be interesting once we find out which players the San Francisco 49ers claimed. It won’t be surprising to see the team active, especially in the wide receiver market. After all, outside of Ricky Pearsall and the recently acquired Skyy Moore, there aren’t many, if any, healthy wideouts on the roster.

So what will Wednesday bring? Per Aaron Wilson, wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling will decide between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Niners. Valdes-Scantling only caught two passes in six games with the Buffalo Bills last year. The 30-year-old has extensive experience, but his most recent productive season in the NFL was 2022.

The 49ers aren’t in a position to be picky at wide receiver.

Wide receiver isn’t the only position the 49ers could use the help. They could be tempted to add a healthy RB3 or, if a defensive back they feel is an upgrade over Siran Neal, that would also be an option.

We’ll update this post with any rumors that happen throughout the day.

Kyle’s update, 9:04 a.m. PT: The Athletic’s Matt Barrows reports that edge rusher Trevis Gipson intends to join the 49ers practice squad.

That didn’t take long, per his agency, the 49ers signed Valdes-Scantling. Valdes-Scantling was with the Seattle Seahawks this offseason before Seattle released him. He caught three passes for 33 yards in their preseason finale.

Kyle’s update, 9:20 a.m. PT: Kendrick Bourne requested his release. The Patriots have a new coaching staff, drafted a wide receiver, and signed two other wideouts this offseason. Bourne likely saw the writing on the wall, and that’s why he asked for his release. Matt Maiocco said the 49ers have “high interest” in Bourne. How could they not?

Albert Breer said the Niners tried to include Bourne in any Brandon Aiyuk deals last summer. Given the current state of the wide receiver room, a Bourne reunion feels inevitable.

The Patriots used Bourne more as an outside receiver than a slot. That wasn’t the case when he was with the 49ers. Ricky Pearsall is the only true outside receiver that’s healthy, but it’s a problem the 49ers can figure out on the fly. They can get by with Bourne and Jennings for a couple of games until Demarcus Robinson returns. Bourne is a massive upgrade from the other wideouts on the roster.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/san-fr...day-should-be-another-busy-day-for-the-niners