Last Minute Free Agent Signings the 49ers Should Consider
The 49ers seem to be set on their core group of contributors for the upcoming season. However, for a team attempting a bounce-back, more contributions shouldn’t hurt. With the team’s history of crumbling due to injuries, they’ll need all the support they can get to stay the course. As the start of the 2025 season inches closer, there are still some talented names that remain in the pool of free agents. Some of them could be realistic options for San Francisco as the team still has minor holes in their roster despite a relatively successful offseason process.
Looking at the position groups they could upgrade with more competition, it is clear that the offensive trenches and the secondary should be their biggest priority on both sides of the ball. Depth is key in the NFL, and late into the offseason, the value of depth grows as the team understands the situation surrounding the team. A veteran offensive lineman like former Jaguars guard Brandon Scherff could be an intriguing addition to a particularly weak position on the 49ers’ depth chart. This would be a major upgrade as a short-term answer for San Francisco after Aaron Banks’ departure. The 33-year-old Scherff hasn’t missed a game since 2021. With All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams’ unpredictable health, the addition would fortify their inconsistency over the last couple of seasons. However, Scherff could be eyeing what is likely the final multi-year deal of his career, which might make him less attractive to the 49ers.
Meanwhile, San Francisco has developing talent in their secondary but could round out the unit by adding players like Asante Samuel Jr. or Justin Simmons, who have shown extreme talent and potential in the past. Samuel Jr. would follow more of what the 49ers have aimed toward this offseason, which has been to completely restore youth and upside throughout the defense. Injuries influenced Samuel Jr.’s future with the Chargers. However, throughout his four-year career, his potential has shone. In 2023, he picked off Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence three times, becoming the first player to ever have three interceptions in the first half of a playoff game. Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green are beginning to burst onto the scene, while the 49ers organization is placing trust in the development of rookie Upton Stout. Samuel Jr. could potentially provide that bridge in the nickel and play a key role in an aggressive and instinctual defense.
