San Francisco 49ers News & Rumors

NFL Announces 2025 Compensatory Picks

MARCH 14: In an unusual step, the NFL has awarded the Saints a seventh-round compensatory pick and stripped one from the Dolphins. The Saints’ pick appears to check in in front of the Browns and Chargers’ Nos. 254 and 255 slots, as NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes Cleveland and Los Angeles’ last 2025 picks will slide down one spot. The Dolphins will retain their other seventh-round comp pick, however.

MARCH 11: The NFL has awarded compensatory draft picks for teams in the 2025 draft. Based on an add/subtract formula that covers the 2024 free agency period, comp picks span from Round 3 to Round 7. The higher picks go to the teams that endured the most significant free agent losses.

This year, the NFL awarded 35 comp picks. The comp pick formula assigns picks to franchises who suffered the largest net losses, so teams that signed multiple free agents have a lesser chance of receiving picks.

Sorted by round and by team, here are the league’s 2025 compensatory selections:

By round:

Round 3: Vikings (No. 97 overall), Dolphins (98), Giants (99), 49ers (100)*, Rams (101)*, Lions (102)*

Round 4: Dolphins (135), Ravens (136), Seahawks (137), 49ers (138)

Round 5: Bills (169), Cowboys (170), Cowboys (171), Seahawks (172), Bills (173), Cowboys (174), Seahawks (175), Ravens (176)

Round 6: Chargers (209), Ravens (210), Cowboys (211), Ravens (212), Raiders (213), Chargers (214), Raiders (215), Browns (216)

Round 7: 49ers (249), Packers (250), Chiefs (251), 49ers (252), Dolphins (253), Browns (254), Chargers (255), Dolphins (256), Chiefs (257)

By team:

  • Baltimore Ravens: 4
  • Dallas Cowboys: 4
  • Miami Dolphins: 4
  • San Francisco 49ers: 4
  • Los Angeles Chargers: 3
  • Seattle Seahawks: 3
  • Buffalo Bills: 2
  • Cleveland Browns: 2
  • Kansas City Chiefs: 2
  • Las Vegas Raiders: 2
  • Detroit Lions: 1
  • Green Bay Packers: 1
  • Los Angeles Rams: 1
  • Minnesota Vikings: 1
  • New York Giants: 1

* = special compensatory selection

49ers To Sign LS Jon Weeks, Cut LS Taybor Pepper

The 49ers have landed a new long snapper. The team is signing veteran Jon Weeks, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. This news follows a report from earlier today that the 49ers were cutting Taybor Pepper, per Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Weeks is inking a one-year deal worth $1.422MM, according to Wilson. The deal contains $200K in guaranteed money.

Weeks was the longest-tenured player in Texans history, as the long snapper had been with the organization since the 2010 season. Over that time, he’s appeared in 244 games for Houston, including a 2015 season where he earned his lone Pro Bowl nod. According to Wilson, the 39-year-old was hoping to stick with the Texans, but the organization is apparently content moving forward with Tucker Addington.

Weeks will be replacing Pepper, who spent the past five seasons as the 49ers long snapper. After getting into 20 games with the Packers and Dolphins to begin his career, Pepper got into 80 games during his stint in San Francisco. The veteran was set to enter the final season of a three-year extension he inked in 2023.

“Wanted to end my career with the 49ers, but I’ve still got some years left in the tank,” Pepper wrote on X. “Love all the amazing players I’ve gotten to share the field with during my time. I’ll deeply miss all of the amazing support staff that continue to keep the org moving.”

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/12/25

Here are the minor moves from the first day of the 2025 league year:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Yes, a few of these players have graduated from our minor-moves sector, but today’s signing blitz being what it was, they land here. Ford highlights the batch contractually, agreeing (per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter) to a two-year, $4MM deal. Ford played on more than 70% of Cleveland’s special teams snaps over the past two seasons.

Trask will reprise his role as Baker Mayfield‘s backup, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicating the former second-round pick is staying on a one-year, $2.79MM contract. Trask and Mayfield competed for the job in 2023, but as was the case with the Drew LockGeno Smith battle a year prior, the winner never looked back. Trask will be in place for a fifth Bucs season, having moved from third-stringer during the Tom Brady era to QB2 in the Mayfield years.

Hawkins will stay with the Patriots on a two-year deal worth up to $2.2MM, according to the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed. A 2022 full-time Falcons starter, Hawkins saw Jessie Bates replace him in 2023. The Falcons later waived Hawkins, who ended up on the Chargers in 2023. The Pats used him as a seven-game starter in 2024, when he made 48 tackles (three for loss).

QB Mac Jones Headed To 49ers

Former first-round quarterback Mac Jones will play for a third team after finishing out his rookie deal in Jacksonville. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Jones is headed to San Francisco, where he will serve as the 49ers’ backup quarterback behind Brock Purdy. Jones joins the team on a two-year, $7MM deal that includes $5MM guaranteed and could be worth up to $11.5MM with incentives.

After being drafted 15th overall out of Alabama by the Patriots in 2021, Jones hit the ground running, starting every game as a rookie. He led New England to the playoffs with a 10-7 record, throwing for 3,801 passing yards for 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, earning himself a Pro Bowl bid and projecting ample hope for Patriots fans about their long-term future.

Unfortunately, that success didn’t last. In the 14 starts of his sophomore campaign, Jones failed to reach 3,000 passing yards while going 6-8 and throwing only 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. In his third season (and with his third offensive coordinator), Jones and the Patriots started the season 2-9 before he ultimately got benched for Bailey Zappe. In those 11 starts, he threw only 10 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.

Last year saw Jones traded to Jacksonville for the 2024 campaign, where he would officially start the year as a backup to Trevor Lawrence. When Lawrence went down with an AC joint sprain, Jones was relied upon as the starter for the remainder of the season. In those eight games down the back half of the season, the Jaguars went 2-6 as Jones threw for 1,672 yards and eight touchdowns with eight interceptions.

In San Francisco, Jones will be QB2 once again. The 49ers saw the contracts of both Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen expire this offseason, with Dobbs actually signing to Jones’ former team in New England. Purdy had been fairly consistent health-wise in his first two seasons, but he did miss two games last year.

In any case, the 49ers continue to do well in putting extremely capable backups behind Purdy in case of disaster. It’s actually quite interesting to see Jones join up with head coach Kyle Shanahan as there were reports back in 2021 that Jones was the preferred option of Shanahan over Trey Lance, whom the team drafted third overall that year.

49ers To Sign DB Jason Pinnock

The 49ers are signing former Giants defensive back Jason Pinnock to a one-year, fully-guaranteed deal, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.

The 25-year-old started 32 games at safety over the last two years in New York, but the Giants’ signing of Jevon Holland made it clear that the team was moving in another direction, according to The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. Pinnock will have an opportunity to earn a starting job in San Francisco after Talanoa Hufanga signed with the Broncos.

Pinnock was excellent in coverage in 2023 with a 74.8 passer rating when targeted, but that figure was above 135.0 in his other three seasons. He can play in the box and offers upside as a pass-rusher with 6.5 sacks across the last three seasons.

The 49ers also re-signed defensive tackle Kevin Givens. The 2019 undrafted free agent will head into his seventh season in the NFL, all in San Francisco. He flashed as a pass-rusher in 2024 with a career-high 3.5 sacks in just eight games before a pectoral tear ended his season. Givens will likely take on a bigger role in 2025 after the team moved on from Javon Hargrave.

San Francisco isn’t placing an RFA tender on linebacker Curtis Robinson, but they will retain him on a one-year deal, according to The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. Robinson was the 49ers’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee last season, but played in only three games before suffering a torn ACL. He has played three games for the 49ers in each of the last four years, with all but three of his snaps coming on special teams.

In 2025, Robinson will be joined by former Titans and Cowboys special teams ace Luke Gifford. The 29-year-old linebacker is signing a one-year deal with the 49ers, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Gifford played a career-high 203 snaps on defense in 2024 along with a core special teams role in Tennessee. Robinson and Gifford will continue their special teams prowess next season, but they may also have to play a bigger role on defense after the departure of Dre Greenlaw in free agency.

49ers To Sign WR Demarcus Robinson

A multiyear cog in Sean McVay’s machine, Demarcus Robinson is not leaving California. He will head north, however, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports the veteran wide receiver is joining the 49ers.

Robinson played two seasons with the Rams, playing alongside Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp; that came not long after a lengthy run with the Chiefs. The 49ers are adding the experienced pass catcher on a two-year, $9.5MM deal. He will be guaranteed $6MM, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe tweets.

The 49ers traded Deebo Samuel and may not have Brandon Aiyuk ready to go by Week 1. Robinson, 30, stands to have a shot at regular playing time alongside holdovers Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall. When Aiyuk returns, Robinson may slide to the WR4 role. Though, he maintained regular snaps with the Rams over the past two seasons.

Although the presence of Tutu Atwell stood to further diminish Robinson’s L.A. role, he did not see his starting job threatened, starting every Rams game last season. Robinson caught 31 passes for 505 yards and seven touchdowns. The 16.3-yard average doubled as a career-high number.

The Rams re-signed Robinson last year, giving him a one-year, $4MM deal. The 49ers’ rate is comparable, but Samuel’s exit and Aiyuk’s rehab timeline open the door for some playing time. Although the Rams are jettisoning Cooper Kupp, they re-signed Atwell and gave Davante Adams a $26MM guarantee Sunday night. That trio will lead the way in L.A., as Robinson — who spent six seasons with the Chiefs earlier in his career — attempts to keep going as a supporting-caster.

Robinson has four 400-plus-yard season on his resume, the first two coming in Kansas City and the third in Baltimore. The Florida alum has quietly scored 27 career touchdowns, having initially worked as an auxiliary Patrick Mahomes target during the Tyreek HillTravis Kelce heyday.

49ers Release Leonard Floyd

Leonard Floyd was known to be a release candidate for the 49ers. The veteran edge rusher is indeed being let go, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The move is now official, per a team announcement.

Floyd inked a two-year pact with the 49ers last offseason, matching the move made by fellow edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos. Both of them were floated as cut candidates this offseason, though, so today’s news comes as little surprise. Floyd was set to carry a cap hit of $10.11MM, and this move will create $1.48MM in savings while generating a dead money charge of $8.63MM.

While many pointed to a Floyd release being possible based on the economics of the situation, his production will be difficult to replace. The 32-year-old finished second on the 49ers with 8.5 sacks in 2024. That extended his streak of at least eight sacks to five years, a stretch was has included time with three different teams. The former Bear, Ram and Bill will now be free to join an interested team at any time.

Finding a long-term complementary edge rusher to pair with Nick Bosa has proven to be a challenge for the 49ers during his decorated run with the team. Of course, the potential to bring in Joey Bosa has been floated in the past and the latter’s Chargers release has made it possible. San Francisco has been in communication with Joey, meaning a deal could be stuck at any time (although the Dolphins loom as a suitor as well).

The 49ers have agreed to a trade which will send wideout Deebo Samuel to the Commanders while they are also set to cut defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. San Francisco informed longtime fullback Kyle Juszczyk  he will be released yesterday, so moving on from Floyd will leave San Francisco without a number of veterans next year. The team saw linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga agree to Broncos deals, yesterday, meaning a number of defensive moves will be needed in addition to replacing Floyd’s edge production.

The Georgia product has has not missed a game since 2017, a factor which (along with his consistent output) should help him land a new deal in short order. Other veteran edge rushers are available, but Floyd is now among the top ones on the market.

49ers To Place Second-Round RFA Tender On Jordan Mason; Team To Sign Richie Grant

The 49ers are set to lose running back Elijah Mitchell once free agency officially begins, but Jordan Mason‘s short-term future has been assured. The latter will receive the second-round restricted free agent tender, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

This move means the 49ers are taking the same route as the Steelers did yesterday with Jaylen WarrenThe second-round tender is worth $5.3MM fully guaranteed, representing a notable raise for Mason. Should he sign an offer sheet which San Francisco declines to match, the team will receive a second-round pick as compensation.

In addition, a deal has been worked out with Richie GrantSchefter’s colleague Jeremy Fowler reports the former Falcon is signing a one-year contract. The 49ers saw Talanoa Hufanga reach agreement on a big-ticket Broncos deal yesterday, and Grant will look to help replace him.

While some teams are balking at even giving RFAs the low-end tender ($3.26MM) this year, the 49ers are doing plenty to ensure Mason stays for a fourth season. Mason beat out Elijah Mitchell to back up Christian McCaffrey last year, before the injury-prone back was lost for the season. A former UDFA out of Georgia Tech, Mason then impressed in McCaffrey’s stead by soaring to the top of the rushing yards leaderboard early — no small feat considering where Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry went last season. Mason finished with 789 rushing yards (5.2 per carry) and three touchdowns in an 11-game season.

Mason had also eclipsed five yards per carry in 2022 and ’23, but doing so on 153 totes in 2024 proved more impressive. Mason suffered a high ankle sprain during the same game — a Sunday-night loss to the Bills — in which McCaffrey’s PCL injury occurred. Although McCaffrey is on track to participate in at least some of the 49ers’ offseason activities, his injury history makes a proven backup important. Mason, 26 in May, will be on track for unrestricted free agency in 2026.

Grant comes over after a four-year tenure with the Falcons. The former second-round pick will join rookie-deal safeties Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha — both moving into the starting lineup due to Hufanga injuries at different points — in the 49ers’ secondary. The 49ers have placed a premium on safety experience, as their deals with Tashaun Gipson have shown, and Grant is heading west after being supplanted in Atlanta’s lineup by Justin Simmons last year. He has made 33 career starts.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/10/25

Here are today’s minor NFL moves that may have been missed during an otherwise extremely busy first day of the tampering period:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

49ers To Release FB Kyle Juszczyk

A consistent part of Kyle Shanahan‘s offense throughout the HC’s 49ers tenure, Kyle Juszczyk is reportedly out in San Francisco. The 49ers informed the veteran fullback they are cutting him, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. This had been on the radar for a bit, as the 49ers will pass on paying him a $4.1MM base salary. Juszczyk has been with the team for eight years. The 49ers will save $2.93MM by releasing him.

After playing out his rookie contract in Baltimore, the Harvard product has been a mainstay in San Francisco. He’s also been a routinely top-tier fullback, making the Pro Bowl in each of the past nine seasons and earning first- and second-team All-Pro honors in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Juszczyk is set to join the rest of the league’s best fullbacks on the open market as Baltimore’s Patrick Ricard, Denver’s Michael Burton, and Buffalo’s Reggie Gilliam all see their contracts expire this year, as well. Burton and Gilliam don’t really match the usage of Juszczyk and Ricard in 2024. Juszczyk (537) and Ricard (495) both played around 500 snaps, while the next closest pair (Alec Ingold and Hunter Luepke) didn’t reach 340.

Of the two high-usage fullbacks, Juszczyk is the far more versatile of the two. Nearly 70 percent of Ricard’s snaps were in run blocking, while Juszczyk played 239 snaps run blocking and 256 as a receiver. No fullback matched Juszczyk’s production as a receiver this year, and it could be argued that it’s been that way ever since he came into the NFL.

It difficult to see what’s on the horizon for Juszczyk. Set to enter the 2025 NFL season at 34 years old, Juszczyk is the second-oldest fullback on the market — Nick Bellore will be 36. Finding another home for Juszczyk will require finding a team that knows how to utilize a versatile fullback and wants to take on that project at his age. At this point, a reunion with the Ravens seems as likely as retirement which seems as likely as pretty much every other scenario on the table.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.