For the second time in five seasons, the San Francisco 49ers’ season finished on another disappointing note against the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs as they once again fell short of their sixth championship in Super Bowl LVIII.
Heading into the offseason, though, oddsmakers have already installed the 49ers, not the Chiefs, as the favorites to win Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
That’s because the San Francisco 49ers don’t face nearly as many significant question marks as the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason. Granted, the 49ers face some important decisions, but at the same time they are in position to return a star-studded roster with much less turnover.
Here are the four offseason moves the San Francisco 49ers should make in 2024.
Extend Brandon Aiyuk
Brandon Aiyuk cemented his place among the NFL’s elite receivers in 2023. Although he was a notable Pro Bowl snub, Aiyuk was selected to the NFL’s All-Pro second team for a season in which he led NFL receivers in yards per catch (17.9) and received Pro Football Focus’ second-highest grade (91.9) at receiver behind Tyreek Hill.
The 49ers have already picked up the fifth-year option on Aiyuk’s rookie contract, guaranteeing him $14.1 million in 2024. Coming off a career year, however, Aiyuk could be looking to paid among the top five receivers in the game.
With Aiyuk’s value skyrocketing, there have been rumblings that the 49ers might look to trade him rather than offering him a sizeable contract extension. If the 49ers decide to compensate him, Aiyuk could receive a contract in excess of $20 million per season when they already have another wideout, Deebo Samuel, making a base salary of $20.97 million in 2024.
Nevertheless, given his value to the San Francisco 49ers this past season, it would be tough not to extend Aiyuk.
- Brandon Aiyuk contract: $14.12 million base salary and cap hit in 2024
- Projected Extension: 4 years, $85 million
Re-sign OG Jon Feliciano
The San Francisco 49ers are able to roll over $36 million in cap space from 2023 after they restructured contracts for Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Trent Williams and Fred Warner. Yet they are still projected to be $3.7 million over the cap, so they will be hard-pressed to add any more large contracts unless more contract restructuring takes place.
Among the 49ers’ 15 unrestricted free agents this offseason, GM John Lynch might try to keep defensive end Chase Young because he gave up a third-round pick to acquire him from Washington. Realistically, though, the 49ers are likely to lose Young, receiver Jauan Jennings, safety Tashaun Gipson, and defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw to free agency, among others.
Therefore, the 49ers’ No. 1 priority should be to re-sign Jon Feliciano. The veteran, who signed with the 49ers last offseason after stints with three other teams, stepped in at right guard for a struggling Spencer Burford and was an immediate upgrade to the 49ers’ offensive interior. Pro Football Focus rated Feliciano as the fifth-highest graded offensive guard in the NFL who was especially adept as a run blocker.
Although that might not sound like a provocative move, the 49ers need help along their offensive line — outside of perennial All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams — and Feliciano gives them a solid yet relatively inexpensive option while they look to upgrade the other spots next to him.
Related: Top NFL free agents 2024
Trade for Haason Reddick
If the San Francisco 49ers wanted to make a splashy offseason move, this would certainly qualify. The Philadelphia Eagles have given the All-Pro edge rusher permission to seek a trade this offseason, and the 49ers would be a perfect match if they decide not to sign Young.
If the 49ers were able to pull off a deal for Reddick, who led the Eagles with 11 sacks in 2023, it would be the second straight offseason in which they added an Eagles player, after signing defensive tackle Javon Hargrave last offseason.
The problem would be compensating Reddick, who’s entering the final year of his contract, which will pay him around $15.7 million. The 49ers, however, have rarely been averse to working with their players to restructure existing contracts, especially when they know it’s for the purpose of adding a two-time Pro Bowl player like Reddick who could put them over the top in 2024.
Related: NFL defense rankings
Draft a right tackle
The San Francisco 49ers’ most noteworthy weakness is at right offensive tackle, where Colton McKivitz allowed the most QB pressures, the second-most hurries, and gave up 11 sacks overall in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus
The upcoming NFL Draft is rich in top-tier offensive tackle prospects, with as many as eight who could be selected in the first round. In 2018, the 49ers drafted right tackle Mike McGlinchy with the No. 9 overall pick, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the 49ers used their No. 31 pick to selected the best offensive tackle available.
The best one might be Georgia’s Amarius Mims, who is surprisingly nimble at 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds. He played right tackle and is exceptional as a pass protector who never allowed either a sack or QB hurry.
Mims has the potential and traits to be a Pro Bowl tackle, and the 49ers need that to keep the front-side pressure off quarterback Brock Purdy in 2024.