49ers To Host WR Denzel Boston
The 49ers have made a pair of notable receiver additions this month. Mike Evans and Christian Kirk are now in the fold, but that has not stopped the team for looking into one of the position’s top draft prospects. 
Denzel Boston is visiting San Francisco today, ESPN’s Field Yates notes. This comes not long after he met with the Browns as part of what will prove to be a busy pre-draft process. An early draft investment at the WR spot would certainly add further to the changes in the 49ers’ case this offseason.
Brandon Aiyuk‘s future is unclear, but it is widely understood he will not play for the team again. Jauan Jennings remains unsigned, meanwhile, and he is expected to play elsewhere in 2026. Trent Taylor is also a free agent at this time, while Kendrick Bourne departed on the open market. Even with Evans and Kirk in the fold, a long-term commitment to a wideout via the draft could therefore be sensible.
San Francisco is slated to select 27th overall in next month’s event. Several of the top receiver prospects – such as Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson and Omar Cooper Jr. – will be off the board by that point, but Boston (ranked 20th on The Athletic’s consensus board) may still be available. The Washington product scored 20 touchdowns across the past two seasons, and expectations will be high for him in the red zone in particular upon entering the NFL.
The 49ers also have one second-round selection and four in the fourth round. The team will have options on Day 2 and 3 to bring in a wideout as a result. Nevertheless, it would come as little surprise if San Francisco continued to use a number of the team’s allotted top 30 visits on some of the most prominent WR prospects in the 2026 class.
49ers, Trent Williams Not Close To Agreement On Reworked Contract
MARCH 24: During his latest comments on the subject, head coach Kyle Shanahan remained confident a resolution will be found. He said, via Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area, “I believe we will get that done. We love Trent too much and eventually that will work out.”
MARCH 23: Both Trent Williams and the 49ers have some incentive to explore a reworked contract for 2026 and beyond. While recent reports indicated that the two sides could agree to some resolution before the draft, it doesn’t sound like they’ve made up much ground in those talks.
[RELATED: 49ers Will Not Exercise Trent Williams’ $10MM Option Bonus]
According to Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom.com, there remains a “huge divide” between the offensive tackle and the 49ers. One source hinted that a move won’t be made until the 49ers are absolutely forced to make a decision, while another source noted that Williams has no incentive to take a new deal now.
The 49ers passed on Williams’ $10MM option bonus earlier this month, which bumped his $38.84MM cap number to an untenable $47MM. The front office is surely pushing to reduce that number while enticing Williams with future guarantees. However, as La Canfora points out, the offensive tackle doesn’t have much reason to take a contract that reduces his $33MM in 2026 cash earnings. Williams is still attached to the three-year, $82.66MM deal he inked with the franchise back in 2024. While there’s still two years remaining on that pact, it doesn’t contain any guaranteed money beyond 2026.
This stare down can lead to three potential outcomes. The path of least resistance sees the sides agree to an extension that reduces Williams’ 2026 cap number, provides the player with future guarantees, and doesn’t drastically reduce his earning potential for this upcoming season. If the two sides can’t work out a deal, then the 49ers could look to trade the lineman, who would surely have a “robust” market, per La Canfora. However, recent reports indicated that San Francisco didn’t have interest in trading the star OT.
The 49ers could also choose to cut the player, although the organization would surely drag that decision out to the last minute. That scenario would see Williams seeking a landing spot right before the start of Week 1 while risking reduced earnings for 2026. It would make sense for the player to blink before negotiations got to that point, although Williams has a history of making these standoffs uncomfortable.
He famously sat out the entire 2019 season in Washington as a result of failed contract talks, culminating in him being dealt to the 49ers in 2020. He later signed a six-year, $138MM deal with his new squad that made him the highest-paid OL in the NFL, and that aforementioned 2024 extension was a record for a non-quarterback over the age of 35. All the while, Williams has continued to perform as one of the league’s premier offensive tackles, with Pro Football Focus consistently ranking the veteran inside the top-three at the position throughout his 49ers tenure.
While there’s no urgency to complete a new deal today, things will surely heat up if the two sides don’t agree to a revised contract over the next few months. At that point, there will be worthy questions about Williams’ ability to finish his career in San Francisco.
49ers To Sign OL Robert Jones
Robert Jones‘ comeback season will take place in San Francisco. The veteran offensive lineman is signing with the 49ers, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The 27-year-old met with the 49ers earlier today.
Jones joined the Cowboys last offseason but suffered a scary injury during training camp when he broke a bone in his neck. That injury ultimately landed the guard on season-ending injured reserve.
The former UDFA out of Middle Tennessee spent the first four seasons of his career in Miami. He played his way into a larger role during his time with the Dolphins, culminating in a 2024 campaign where he started all 17 games. While Pro Football Focus was never particularly fond of his blocking skills, his ability to play both tackle and guard made him a useful piece.
Jones inked a one-year, $4.75MM deal with the Cowboys last offseason, and he was expected to be in the mix to replace right guard Zack Martin. Instead, he suffered a broken bone in his neck during a late-August practice. While there was initial hope for a two-to-three month recovery and a stint on short-term IR, the Cowboys instead opted to sit him out for the entire 2025 campaign.
While he missed out on that opportunity to start in Dallas, he may get a similar chance in San Francisco. Spencer Burford left for the Raiders this offseason, and usual fill-in Ben Bartch remains unsigned. That would leave Jones as a candidate to fill in at left guard, where he’ll compete with the likes of Connor Colby and free agent acquisition Brett Toth for reps.
49ers Meet With G Robert Jones
A 30-game starter in Miami, Robert Jones joined the Cowboys in free agency last year. But the former UDFA offensive lineman suffered a season-nullifying injury, hitting free agency on a low note a year later.
Two-plus weeks into this year’s FA period, Jones remains unsigned. But he is drawing interest. The 49ers met with the veteran guard Monday, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets.
The 49ers have Dominick Puni penciled in as their right guard starter, and they signed veteran swingman Brett Toth as a potential LG option. As of now, Toth and part-time 2025 starter Connor Colby would battle for the 49ers’ starting LG position, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch writes. Jones’ visit shows the 49ers still likely have this position on their radar.
No relation to the former Cowboys linebacker of same name, this Robert Jones turned is going into an age-27 season after his lost year in Dallas. Jones suffered a broken bone in his neck in August and ended up on Dallas’ season-ending IR list. The Cowboys had signed him to a one-year, $3.75MM deal with $3MM guaranteed. While that move conceivably put Jones in position to be the Cowboys’ Zack Martin RG successor, the team drafted Tyler Booker 12th overall to pair with Tyler Smith.
Pro Football Focus graded Jones 41st and 35th among guards in 2022 and ’23, respectively, though the advanced metrics site viewed Jones’ 17-game starter season (2024) as less impressive (59th overall). Jones played left guard throughout the 2024 season in Miami, which did not see its Isaiah Wynn signings lead to much work. Jones logged more than 150 snaps at both LG and RG in 2023 and played 431 LG snaps in 2022.
Toth joined the 49ers on a one-year, $2.5MM deal, Wilson adds. The 49ers guaranteed the ex-Eagle $2.22MM at signing. Colby and Nick Zakelj, whom the team re-signed in February, are in place as guard options on a line that returns starters Puni, Jake Brendel, Colton McKivitz and, as of now, Trent Williams.
In other 49ers contract news, their deal with linebacker Luke Gifford is worth $5MM over two years, according to Wilson. Gifford secured $2MM fully guaranteed. Defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu joined the team on a one-year, $2.3MM accord that comes with $1.8MM guaranteed at signing, Wilson adds. Punter Corliss Waitman signed a one-year, $1.29MM deal that includes $475K fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets.
49ers Will Not Exercise Trent Williams’ $10MM Option Bonus
MARCH 21: While Williams’ future will remain unclear until a contract resolution can be worked out, Schefter’s colleague Nick Wagoner writes the 49ers have not sought out a trade in this case. An extension providing the team with a lower 2026 cap charge and Williams with new guarantees remains something to watch for.
MARCH 20: The 49ers have until 3 p.m. CT to exercise left tackle Trent Williams‘ $10MM option bonus, but they will pass on it, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. While Williams’ cap number will rise from $38.84MM to $47MM, the 49ers are “not overly concerned,” per Schefter. They plan to rework Williams’ contract before April’s draft.
As the 49ers and the 37-year-old Williams butted heads over his contract a few weeks ago, Schefter reported on Feb. 24 that they could release him. However, speaking to the media later that day, general manager John Lynch sounded confident that would not happen.
“Trent loves being a Niner. We love having Trent as a Niner,” Lynch said. “We’re all on the same page… I feel very positive where that’s going.”
On March 9, two days before the start of the new league year, a report indicating the 49ers could trade Williams surfaced. Williams remains a 49er, however, and it seems the team plans to keep it that way. Regardless, this is the latest contract dispute during what will surely end up as a Hall of Fame career for the 12-time Pro Bowler.
Then in Washington, Williams sat out the entire 2019 season as a result of a standoff with the team. Washington traded Williams to San Francisco for third- and fifth-round picks in April 2020. Eleven months later, the 49ers handed Williams a six-year, $138MM extension. The deal made Williams the game’s highest-paid offensive lineman.
After Williams managed three straight first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl seasons to begin his contract, the 49ers reworked it in September 2024. The three-year, $82.66MM agreement featured $48MM in guarantees, a record for a non-quarterback over the age of 35. Williams still has another year left on the pact, but there is no guaranteed money remaining.
NFC Contract Details: Lions, Franklin, Cross, Cardinals, Cowboys, 49ers, Bears, Saints
Here are the latest details from contracts agreed to around the NFC:
- Cade Mays, C (Lions). Three years, $25MM. Mays secured $6MM of his $7.7MM 2027 base salary fully guaranteed, according to OverTheCap. Four void years are included in the deal, per the Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers, with Mays’ 2026 cap hit sitting at $2.77MM. A $7.39MM option bonus is in place for 2028; the Lions bailing before that is due would result in a $3.89MM dead money hit, Rogers adds.
- Zaire Franklin, LB (Packers). Two years, $18MM. Two years remained on Franklin’s Colts-constructed contract — initially a three-year, $31.26MM deal. The Packers reworked it. Franklin received a $3.75MM signing bonus on his post-trade agreement, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. That is the only guarantee here, though Franklin’s 2026 salary ($4.24MM) will lock in just before Week 1 due to the LB being a vested veteran.
- Nick Cross, S (Commanders). Two years, $13MM. The deal includes $6.1MM fully guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. None of Cross’ 2027 money is guaranteed.
- Neville Gallimore, DT (Bears). Two years, $10.13MM. Gallimore will see $5MM guaranteed at signing, Wilson tweets. The Bears included a $375K roster bonus due on Day 5 of the 2027 league year.
- Benjamin St-Juste, CB (Packers). Two years, $10MM. St-Juste received just $3MM at signing, Wilson adds. The signing bonus represents the guarantee, though a $1.5MM roster bonus is due on Day 3 of the 2027 league year.
- Noah Fant, TE (Saints). Two years, $8.75MM. The former first-round pick secured $4.5MM guaranteed at signing, ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell tweets. No guarantees are in place for 2027.
- Elijah Wilkinson, OL (Cardinals). Two years, $6.25MM. Wilkinson’s contract comes with $3.1MM fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets. The veteran blocker played for less than $1.5MM during both his Falcons seasons.
- Gardner Minshew, QB (Cardinals). One year, $5.75MM. This deal comes in far south of Minshew’s two-year, $25MM Raiders pact from 2024, and the initially reported $8.25MM represented a max value. Minshew will see $5.14MM fully guaranteed, per Wilson. Minshew’s deal checks in just below Jacoby Brissett‘s for AAV; Brissett is on a two-year, $12.5MM accord.
- Larry Borom, T (Lions). One year, $5MM. Borom’s deal comes almost fully guaranteed, with Wilson noting the at-signing number is $4.9MM. This contract is double his Dolphins deal from 2025.
- Malik Hooker, S (Cowboys). One year, $5MM. Hooker’s reworking will bring a $3MM guarantee, per OverTheCap. Hooker was going into the final season of a three-year, $21MM contract.
- Olamide Zaccheaus, WR (Falcons). Two years, $4.5MM. The ex-Matt Ryan target will return to Atlanta — under the leadership of the team’s new front office boss — for $2.3MM fully guaranteed, Wilson adds.
- Cobie Durant, CB (Cowboys). One year, $4MM. Durant’s deal includes just $1.5MM guaranteed at signing, via OverTheCap, though another $1.75MM (the ex-Ram CB’s base salary) will lock in just before Week 1.
- Nate Hobbs, CB (49ers). One year, $3.5MM. The previously reported $4.5MM number represents the deal’s max value. Hobbs will see $3.11MM fully guaranteed, ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner tweets.
Commanders Rumors: Pierce, Aiyuk
The Commanders were “aggressive” in their pursuit of Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce when the NFL’s legal negotiating window opened March 9, but he stayed put on a four-year, $114MM contract. It turns out he nearly ended up in Washington. Had Pierce reached the open market, he “absolutely” would have signed with the Commanders, a source told John Keim of ESPN.
After seemingly finishing second in the Pierce sweepstakes, Washington was the runner-up in the Romeo Doubs derby the next day. Doubs left the Packers for the Patriots’ four-year, $68MM pact, but the Commanders were reportedly “very close” to landing him.
While the Commanders still have not found a capable complement to No. 1 receiver Terry McLaurin, they have bolstered their pass-catching group in adding former Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo and making modest investments at receiver (Dyami Brown, Treylon Burks, Van Jefferson). Impact options at the position continue to dwindle in free agency, though. Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel, who spent last season in Washington, are among the most appealing unsigned wideouts remaining.
Samuel led a banged-up Commanders receiving corps in catches (72), targets (99), yards (727) and touchdowns (five) last year, but he hasn’t drawn any known interest from Washington or elsewhere this offseason. The Commanders are expected to target one of Samuel’s former 49ers teammates, Brandon Aiyuk, though San Francisco will have to part with him first. While Aiyuk starred during his most recent full season in 2023, his stock has plummeted since then. As such, it is “unlikely” the Commanders will trade for Aiyuk or submit anything more than a one-year, prove-it offer if the 49ers release him, Keim writes.
In 2024, the first season of a four-year, $120MM contract, Aiyuk caught only 25 of 47 targets for 374 yards and no touchdowns before tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 7. He has not played since then.
While Aiyuk was on the mend from surgery last July, the 49ers voided the remaining guarantees on his deal because they were not happy with his rehab efforts. They eventually placed Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list in December, ending any chance he would play in 2025.
Delving into the Aiyuk drama as a guest on the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast this week, 49ers tight end George Kittle revealed (via Coach Yac): “The last time I saw Aiyuk, he was kinda at training camp, kinda not and then he was in and out of the building throughout the first couple of weeks. Then I started going out to see him in the weight room because he didn’t go into the locker room or the training room anymore. He would just go into the weight room to do his rehab. I would go there and talk to him because he didn’t go to meetings or anything like that. I would just talk to him and let him know ‘I’m your guy. Just letting you know I love ya’. I started doing that Week 6 and then a week later that story came out about all the crazy stuff and then I didn’t see him again.”
Although Aiyuk has the talent to revive his career, it is no surprise that the Commanders and the rest of the league are wary of trading for him or handing over a sizable contract. But whether it’s Aiyuk or someone else, it would be ideal for Washington to find another starting-level receiver this offseason. General manager Adam Peters has come up empty in his efforts so far.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/18/26
Wednesday’s minor transactions from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Teagan Quitoriano
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DT James Lynch
Cleveland Browns
- Re-signed: OLB Julian Okwara
- Signed: S Daniel Thomas
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Tycen Anderson
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: DE Sam Okuayinonu
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: WR Cody White
Okwara returns to Cleveland after spending the entire 2025 season on the practice squad. The former third-round pick has 10.0 sacks in his six years of NFL play with five coming in his sophomore campaign. The addition of Thomas provides the Browns with a veteran special teams contributor.
The 49ers are bringing back Okuayinonu after the fourth-year defender filled in for 12 starts and two postseason starts with San Francisco last year. He’s recorded three sacks in each of the past two years for the 49ers.
49ers Not Expected To Re-Sign WR Jauan Jennings
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings was expected to draw multiple suitors in free agency after his first two seasons as a starting wideout for the 49ers.
San Francisco engaged in contract talks with Jennings after the season, but the two sides could not agree on terms before he hit the open market.
Surprisingly, the five-year veteran has received little interest since free agency began, despite racking up 1,618 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on 132 catches in the last two years. He has also filled multiple roles in one of the most popular offensive schemes in the league – including time cutting his teeth as a run-blocker – and has relationships with the 49ers’ former coaches who have now taken head coach or coordinator jobs with other teams.
But if Jennings is aiming for a starting-level receiver money around $15MM per year, he may need to recalibrate his expectations for his new contract.
Re-upping in San Francisco may no longer be an option, either, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur. The sight of Mike Evans in a 49ers uniform will take some getting used do, but he more than replaces Jennings’ physical presence and production in the receiver room. His three-year, $42.5MM deal ate up a significant portion of the team’s offseason budget, making it difficult for them to offer Jennings a competitive salary now.
Perhaps the 49ers’ impending split with Brandon Aiyuk will open a path for Jennings to remain with the club that drafted him in 2020. His familiarity with Shanahan’s scheme and ability to operate out wide or from the slot makes him an easy plug-and-play option if the team does not fill out their wide receiver depth in the coming months.
NFC Contract Details: McDuffie, Eagles, Oweh, Lloyd, Etienne, Giants, Packers, 49ers, Bucs
Here are the latest details from contracts agreed to around the NFC:
- Trent McDuffie, CB (Rams). Four years, $124MM. Although McDuffie secured $100MM guaranteed, $50MM is locked in at signing. But a rolling guarantee structure is in place. If on the Rams’ roster by Day 5 of the 2027 league year, McDuffie will see his 2028 base salary ($26.32MM) shift to a full guarantee, according to OverTheCap. On Day 5 of the 2028 league year, the All-Pro cornerback will see $23MM of his $29.82MM 2029 base salary become guaranteed. A $5MM roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2029 league year.
- Odafe Oweh, DE (Commanders). Four years, $96MM. Oweh will receive $50.6MM guaranteed at signing, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. An additional $17.4MM is guaranteed for injury. A $1MM roster bonus is due by April 1, 2029, according to Spotrac.
- Jordan Davis, DT (Eagles). Three years, $78MM. Of Davis’ reported $65MM guarantee, OverTheCap indicates $38.94MM is the at-signing number. If Davis is on the Eagles’ roster by Day 3 of the 2027 league year, his 2028 salary and a $24.2MM option bonus become guaranteed.
- Laremy Tunsil, LT (Commanders). Two years, $60.2MM. Tunsil secured $52.66MM guaranteed at signing on his third career extension, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. The Pro Bowl left tackle’s 2026 and ’27 compensation is fully guaranteed. An additional $8.85MM in 2028 compensation is guaranteed for injury.
- Travis Etienne, RB (Saints). Four years, $47MM. Etienne landed $24MM fully guaranteed, ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell tweets. That is tied for fifth among running backs. The ex-Jaguar secured a $4MM injury guarantee on his $12MM 2028 base salary, Terrell adds.
- Devin Lloyd, LB (Panthers). Three years, $42MM. The initial reports of $45MM covered the deal’s max value, though the reported $25MM guarantee is a full guarantee (per Wilson). This includes an $8.54MM guarantee of Lloyd’s $11.25MM 2027 base salary.
- Isaiah Likely, TE (Giants). Three years, $40MM. Likely landed $20.5MM guaranteed, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets. If the Giants move on after 2027, they would save $12MM.
- Chig Okonkwo, TE (Commanders). Three years, $27MM. The ex-Titan pass catcher scored $17.6MM fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets. The guarantee covers Okonkwo’s 2026 and ’27 compensation.
- Leo Chenal, LB (Commanders). Three years, $24.75MM. Chenal secured $12.4MM guaranteed, ESPN.com’s John Keim tweets.
- Javon Hargrave, DT (Packers). Two years, $23MM. Green Bay is giving Hargrave $10.5MM guaranteed at signing. ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky confirms, per usual with the Packers, the only guarantee comes via a signing bonus. A $3MM roster bonus is due next March.
- Alex Anzalone, LB (Buccaneers). Two years, $17MM. Anzalone’s contract includes $12MM guaranteed at signing, Wilson tweets.
- Eddy Pineiro, K (49ers). Four years, $17MM. The deal includes $8MM guaranteed at signing, with ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner indicating $10MM is guaranteed in total. Pineiro’s first two years are fully guaranteed; his 2028 base salary ($1.7MM) becomes guaranteed on April 1, 2027, Wagoner adds.
- Tyler Higbee, TE (Rams). Two years, $6MM. The initial $8MM number represents the deal’s max value, with Wilson adding $3.4MM of Higbee’s fourth contract is guaranteed.