The San Francisco 49ers won’t be participating in Super Bowl LIX. They won’t even have many former players in the game.
There could be a handful of future 49ers suiting up for Sunday’s showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
We sifted through the pending free agents for both teams and picked out the ones who should be on the 49ers’ radar going into the final game of the 2024 season:
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) and defensive end George Karlaftis (56) tackle San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) during the second quarter of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The 49ers haven’t been in a hurry to spend at safety, and if they were going to do that they’d probably try to keep free agent S Talanoa Hufanga in the building. If they want to solidify the position with a consistently reliable player though, Reid would bring stability that would be worth the price tag.
Jan 18, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton (98) reacts during the fourth quarter of a 2025 AFC divisional round game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Finding affordable interior defensive line help has to be one of the 49ers’ top free agency priorities. Warton isn’t a starting-caliber player, but he’d upgrade San Francisco’s depth while providing some pass rush presence on the interior.
Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (8) runs against Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
The 49ers need some wide receiver depth and a veteran like Hopkins could help a receiving corps that may be one of the youngest in the NFL next season. He’s been dealing with an injury and hasn’t been super productive for Kansas City, but it’s unlikely he’ll be super expensive in the offseason.
Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Hollywood Brown (5) against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Brown is another veteran WR option who isn’t liable to break the bank, especially after missing most of this season with a shoulder injury.
Dec 24, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Josh Uche (55) as offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey (69) defends in the third quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Uche may not even play in the Super Bowl thanks to his struggles to be productive after being traded to the Chiefs midseason. He’s a 26-year-old edge rusher who had 11.5 sacks in the 2022 season as a rotational pass rusher for the Patriots, which is why he makes our list. It’s well worth the risk for San Francisco to take a cheap flier on young defensive end depth with a very good NFL season under his belt.
Oct 16, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) catches a pass for a touchdown as Buffalo Bills cornerback Siran Neal (33) chases during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Smith-Schuster won’t turn 29 until the middle of next season. For a team with WR depth problems, Smith-Schuster is an intriguing name to keep an eye on.
Jan 19, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Mekhi Becton (77) against the Philadelphia Eagles in a 2025 NFC divisional round game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Becton is a really interesting player because he put together a strong rookie season with the New York Jets in 2020, got hurt in 2021, struggled in 2022, then joined the Eagles in 2023 and moved from left tackle to right guard with a ton of success. He may get priced out of what the 49ers are willing to pay, but a big, versatile OL will be worth a long look for a team with starting OL and depth problems.
Oct 20, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Josh Sweat (19) pass rushes against the New York Giants New York Giants guard Joshua Ezeudu (75) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
If the 49ers want to play near the top of the free agent market to find pass rush help, Sweat is the type of player they’d pursue. He’s been consistently productive with at least 6.0 sacks in each of the last five seasons. Pro Football Focus also has him averaging 60 pressures per year over the last three.
Dec 1, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams (93) celebrates as Baltimore Ravens place kicker Justin Tucker (9) reacts to missing a second half field goal at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Poaching the Eagles defensive front is almost always a good idea. Williams won’t cost the same as Javon Hargrave, but he’s a quality defensive tackle who bolsters San Francisco’s rotation and could start in a pinch.
Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell (14) celebrates after recovering a fumble against the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Running back is a strange position for the 49ers. They’re loaded with Christian McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo and Jordan Mason (a restricted free agent), but all three had injury issues in 2024. More depth would be helpful and a proven option like Gainwell who can mimic some of McCaffrey’s usage as a pass catcher would improve the quality of the 49ers RB depth significantly.
