The 49ers are on the verge of losing these highly recommended free agents whose contracts are yet to be renewed by the 49ers. As they’ve just been involved in potential moves to…
Twenty-one San Francisco 49ers players are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. While some players will be kept on the team, some won’t. There will be disparate values and salary cap restrictions, even if the 49ers wish to
keep some of them. They will ultimately have to decide which ones are more valuable to resign from than others. I’ve selected the four free agents that the 49ers should let walk and not re-sign to make it simpler for them. DE PUSH
YOUNG The simplest free agent to release is this one. When the 49ers acquire a defensive lineman in the middle of the season, things usually work out well for them. Chase Young, though, defied that pattern this season. He was far
from suitable for the 49ers. In a couple of the team’s early games, he appeared to be in good shape. But he totally turned into a filler player as the season went on. His lack of effort was ultimately shown as well. Young was not really
having an effect. He is only ineffective as a pass rusher and ineffective in run defense. Young is probably going to want to demand a higher salary than the 49ers can pay. When free agency rolls around, I could see him going after a
$8 million, one-year contract. If he isn’t willing to reduce it by two-thirds, the 49ers should gladly let him go. FS TASHAUN GIPSON The 49ers need to turn the page and embrace the new era at safety. For the defense, Tashaun
Gipson has been a rock star who was also somewhat of a steal in free agency. They must now, however, go on. By the time the 2024 season begins, Gipson will be 34 years old. They can’t keep giving valuable game repetitions to a
player who isn’t improving. The situation is now complicated by Talanoa Hufanga’s position. He and Ji’Ayir Brown should be the starting safety tandem for the 49ers going forward, but will Hufanga be ready when the regular season
begins? If it’s a tie, then maybe Gipson does come back. Unless the 49ers simply search for a player on their roster to step up and take over until Hufanga is ready, that is. In either case, Gipson may need to look for work somewhere
else. DE RANDY GREGORY Randy Gregory wasn’t noticeably superior to Young in terms of midseason moves that didn’t work out. He and Young are somewhat in the same situation. He was having a noticeable effect in the first few
games after arriving, but he eventually vanished. Gregory’s potential to become even more of a player with the 49ers and reach his best level of play from a few years ago with the Dallas Cowboys was highly anticipated. But he never
got near it. Neither playing with Nick Bosa nor working with defensive line coach Kris Kocurek seemed to inspire him all that much. Gregory is merely a respectable depth player with a few big snaps per game. The 49ers may end
up paying a premium for him, but I believe they could save some of those millions and use them in other ways. CB/S Ryan Logan Kyle Shanahan has a particular fondness for elderly free agent veterans. I am aware that Hufanga’s
injury and other factors led to the 49ers signing Logan Ryan, but they still have a lot of affection for their older backup guys. Ryan is on this site because I am afraid the 49ers will beg and plead for him to return. Let Ryan’s brief
tenure stand. He filled in at safety and then in the slot, so it was a respectable one. However, the 49ers need to stop worrying so much about their young players’ negative reputations and start turning to the veteran. Have faith in your
coaches and scouts to develop the young secondary players in the same manner that Deommodore Lenoir did. Thank Ryan for his services and give him a pat on the back or perhaps an embrace.
