SANTA CLARA – Retain the 40-year-old long snapper.
It doesn’t sound like an ambitious mission, but it is the 49ers’ first preemptive strike before next week’s free agency frenzy, as announced Tuesday.
Jon Weeks has re-signed on another one-year deal after earning Pro Bowl honors last season in his 49ers debut, following a 15-year tenure with the Houston Texans.
He surely won’t be the only player retained before hitting the open market, with free agency talks commencing at 9 a.m. next Monday and contracts ratifying as early as 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 11.
The 49ers did not wield the franchise tag on any of their 20 players slated to become unrestricted free agents, and more could become available as last-minute salary-cap casualties.
Headlining that list, at least from a high-cost standpoint, is wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who is looking to cash in after six years with the 49ers.
Other major issues on the coming agenda: settling left tackle Trent Williams’ lame-duck contract status, gauging quarterback Mac Jones’ trade market and weighing the enormous cost of potential acquisitions, such as center Tyler Linderbaum and defensive end Trey Hendrickson, or an unlikely trade for the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby.
Here is a scouting report on the 49ers’ crop of free agents and their likelihood to return:
GUARD BEN BARTCH
He could be the frontrunner to start at left guard, if his injury-riddled history doesn’t spook the 49ers. After overcoming an elbow injury in training camp, Bartch started the first two games last season, then endured serious ankle and foot injuries. Return outlook: Probable
WIDE RECEIVER KENDRICK BOURNE
His uplifting spirit was so admired that he gave the pregame-huddle speech before the playoff finale in Seattle. But he had no catches over the final three games and just 19 for 180 yards the final 14, with no touchdowns all season. He did produce back-to-back 142-yard games at Los Angeles and Tampa Bay in rekindling a Patriots connection with Mac Jones. Return outlook: Questionable
GUARD/TACKLE SPENCER BURFORD
His versatility and experience (38 starts in 56 games, plus seven playoff appearances) could prompt another team to overpay for him. Rather than be ostracized for a blocking gaffe in the 2023 team’s overtime loss in the Super Bowl, Burford worked toward becoming a swing tackle, then replaced Bartch at left guard. Return outlook: Doubtful
DEFENSIVE TACKLE JORDAN ELLIOTT
Started the past two seasons after leaving Cleveland, making 50 tackles (three for loss) and no sacks on a defense that has struggled against the run. Return outlook: Doubtful
DEFENSIVE END CLELIN FERRELL
A 2023 starter, he had stints with the Commanders and Chargers before returning for the final 2 ½ months last season, highlighted by two sacks in Cleveland. Return outlook: Doubtful
LINEBACKER LUKE GIFFORD
Arrived last year for the special teams makeover and earned Pro Bowl honors for that, with 20 tackles that tied for the NFL’s sixth-most. He recovered a key fumble in Cleveland but otherwise struggled in pass coverage as an outside linebacker. Return outlook: Questionable
DEFENSIVE TACKLE KEVIN GIVENS
Time appears to have finally expired on Givens’ 70-game tenure that started in 2019 as an undrafted free agent. After a pectoral tear in camp, he played just five games, then was a healthy scratch at season’s end. Return outlook: Doubtful
DEFENSIVE END YETUR GROSS-MATOS
A knee injury in the 2024 preseason finale initially sidetracked him after arriving on a two-year, $18 million deal. A hamstring injury compounded things this past season. In 19 career games for the 49ers, he had four sacks, with three coming in 2024 vs. Chicago. Return outlook: Doubtful
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN MATT HENNESSY
Initially impressed as a fill-in center against Atlanta and made two starts, but he also had breakdowns on special teams. Return outlook: Questionable
WIDE RECEIVER JAUAN JENNINGS
Rather than keep him on a $26 million franchise tag, the 49ers appear willing to let Jennings test the market for a multi-year deal worthy of a starting-caliber, play-making, opponent-agitating wide receiver. His sixth and potentially final season came with multiple injuries (calf, ankle, shoulder, ribs), a career-high nine touchdowns, a scoring pass to Christian McCaffrey in the wild-card playoffs, but also seven interceptions among 90 targets. Return outlook: Doubtful
LINEBACKER ERIC KENDRICKS
His 12th NFL season should be as a starting middle linebacker, but that role with the 49ers figures to be reclaimed by Fred Warner after his ankle repair. Kendricks earned a spot in 49ers lore with a fourth-down pass breakup to seal their wild-card win at Philadelphia. Return outook: Doubtful
WIDE RECEIVER SKYY MOORE
Traded from Kansas City, Moore shook off early ball-security concerns, averaged 11.6 yards on punt returns and 27.5 yards on kick returns, highlighted by a 98-yarder to open a win at Arizona. He had just five catches for 87 yards on a team glaringly lacking wide receivers. Return outlook: Questionable
PUNTER THOMAS MORSTEAD
His 40th birthday is Sunday, but that age shouldn’t deter the 49ers (see: Weeks, 40). Morstead’s 36.8-yard net average was his lowest since his 2009 rookie season with the Saints. However, he dropped 22 of 44 punts inside opponents’ 20-yard line. He had no punts in back-to-back December wins over the Titans and Colts. Return outlook: Questionable
KICKER EDDY PIÑEIRO
He was a godsend after Jake Moody and made all 29 field-goal attempts except a 64-yarder that hit the crossbar in Indianapolis. He otherwise made all six other attempts beyond 50 yards, and he really won over everyone with a winning kick in the home opener. He did miss four of his 38 point-after kicks. Return outlook: Probable
SAFETY JASON PINNOCK
He started the first five games in tandem with rookie Marques Sigle, then was relegated to spot duty, producing no interceptions, fumble recoveries, forced fumbles, pass breakups or sacks. Return outlook: Doubtful
RUNNING BACK BRIAN ROBINSON
Traded from Washington on Aug. 24, Robinson was stuck in Christian McCaffrey’s All-Pro shadow, though he did emerge for touchdowns in back-to-back November games against the Giants and the Rams. He had a career-low 92 carries (400 yards) and averaged 4.3 yards per carry. Return outlook: Doubtful
LINEBACKER CURTIS ROBINSON
Thrust by injuries into the middle linebacker role, he delivered a career-high 11 tackles at Arizona, but he totaled just 16 tackles over an ensuing three-start spree before getting deactivated three games before the playoffs. The Stanford product has been part of the 49ers since 2021 and not only is their players’ union rep but also their 2024-25 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee. Return outlook: Questionable
RUNNING BACK PATRICK TAYLOR JR.
Shoulder surgery kept him out last season, after working his way up the injury-laden depth chart in 2024. Return outlook: Doubtful
WIDE RECEIVER TRENT TAYLOR
A back injury kept him out last season but he remained a constant presence around the facility and close pal George Kittle. Return outlook: Doubtful
LINEBACKER GARRETT WALLOW
A month after being claimed off waivers from Denver, Wallow started the 49ers’ wild-card win at Philadelphia and supplied 11 tackles (then just one in 33 snaps in Seattle). Return outlook: Questionable
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
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Cornerback Chase Lucas: Feisty style saw him play half the special-teams snaps but just 10% on defense last season, after serving on the 2024 practice squad.
Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu: Had three sacks each of the past two seasons; just vacationed in Australia, where the 49ers open next season.
Tight end Jake Tonges: Emerged last season as a sure-handed fill-in for Kittle, and that could be required to start 2026 as Kittle recovers from Achilles surgery. The first of Tonges’ five touchdown catches won their opener in Seattle.
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