Photo Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
For the past five years, the San Francisco 49ers built their offseason approach around one phrase: “Run it back.” This year, after a disappointing 6-11 season, the strategy has shifted dramatically. In the first week-plus of free agency, the 49ers let go of 17 players—whether by trade, release, or simply choosing not to match offers. As of Wednesday night, 15 of those players had signed contracts worth up to $341.5 million in total potential earnings. Meanwhile, San Francisco’s 10 outside free-agent signings totaled just $41.88 million—the lowest amount in the NFL—with only $4.785 million fully guaranteed.
Cap Reset: The Cost of a Roster Overhaul
The Niners’ willingness to release veterans with time and money left on their deals has resulted in a league-high $86.6 million in dead money for 2025, once the post-June 1 releases of defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins take effect.
None of this is a surprise. General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan hinted at this shift well before the league year began.
“At some point you have to reset a little bit or at least recalibrate,” Lynch said. “You can’t just keep pressing the pedal, and I think there’s some good that could come out [of it]. We need to get younger. I think we were the oldest team in football trying to make a run at the deal last year. And I think it’s good to constantly get younger.”
While Lynch didn’t say the word “cheaper,” cost-cutting is a big part of the plan.
A Shift in Spending Strategy
In 2024, the 49ers led the NFL in cash spending, shelling out $334.5 million on player salaries—far exceeding the $255.5 million salary cap. They handed out big-money extensions to Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, and Brandon Aiyuk, restructured contracts for Deebo Samuel Sr. and Hargrave, and signed multiple eight-figure free agents.
The team used signing bonuses, option bonuses, and void years to manage cap numbers, but that approach eventually caught up to them. Since 2019, the 49ers have consistently ranked among the league’s highest spenders, trying to win a Super Bowl after losing Super Bowl LIV to the Kansas City Chiefs.
That aggressive spending didn’t deliver a championship, and now the 49ers are paying the price.
Planning for Change
San Francisco saw this shift coming. Last year’s draft picks—Ricky Pearsall, Renardo Green, Dominick Puni, Malik Mustapha, and Isaac Guerendo—were selected with the expectation they’d replace Deebo Samuel, Charvarius Ward, Aaron Banks, Talanoa Hufanga, and either Jordan Mason or Elijah Mitchell in 2025.
However, the team’s struggles last season likely sped up decisions to part ways with Hargrave, Collins, and defensive end Leonard Floyd.
Simply put, the 49ers no longer wanted to pay players who weren’t producing at a level equal to their contracts. They’re also clearing cap space for the future—particularly for quarterback Brock Purdy’s eventual extension.
A Model for the 49ers: The Rams’ Rebuild
If this approach sounds familiar, it’s because the Los Angeles Rams did something similar after winning Super Bowl LVI.
In 2022, the Rams led the league in cash spending ($285.6 million), trying to keep their core intact by re-signing key players and spending in free agency. But after finishing 5-12, they shifted gears, cutting payroll and prioritizing the draft.
By 2023, the Rams ranked last in cash spending and took on nearly $80 million in dead money by cutting players like Allen Robinson and Leonard Floyd and trading Jalen Ramsey. Their 14-player draft class—featuring Steve Avila, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, and Puka Nacua—helped them rebound to a 10-7 playoff season.
That strategy worked, and the Rams made the playoffs again in 2024, despite ranking 31st in cash spending.
Can the 49ers Pull It Off?
Executing this strategy successfully won’t be easy. The 49ers haven’t gotten much from their 2021-2023 draft classes, aside from Deommodore Lenoir and Purdy. Their 2024 rookies showed promise, but they still have a lot to prove.
San Francisco enters the 2025 NFL Draft with 11 picks, including the No. 11 overall selection. If they hit on several of those picks, get improvement from young players, and avoid major injuries, they could still be a playoff contender—even with all the roster turnover.
Vegas oddsmakers remain optimistic. ESPN BET lists the 49ers as NFC West favorites (+125) and gives only five teams better Super Bowl odds.
“We always want to be competitive now and into the future,” Lynch said. “I think our thought has always been you grow the core and then you can kind of supplement around that.”
For the 49ers, 2025 is a reset year—but not necessarily a lost one.
Related Content: How the 49ers Plan to Replace Deebo Samuel After Trade
This report used information from ESPN.
