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.
OL Notes: Lions, Linderbaum, Steelers, Texans, Giants, Panthers, Browns, Saints
Winning a 49ers starting guard job to open last season, Ben Bartch ran into injury trouble and ultimately lost his job. The veteran interior O-lineman suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2, being part of another injury-riddled 49ers season. Upon return, Bartch did not reacquire his starting job. Bartch ended up suffering a foot sprain, after the 49ers used an IR activation on him, and played out his contract. The Lions have him on their radar, however, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson noting the NFC North team conducted a visit recently. A 24-game starter with Jacksonville and San Francisco, Bartch is heading into an age-28 season. Detroit signed Cade Mays to fill in at center, and the team returns starters Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany from last season.
Here is the latest from around the O-line groups:
- Not returning after a Week 12 neck injury, Broderick Jones underwent fusion surgery in his neck (according to the Pat McAfee Show‘s Mark Kaboly). It looked like a long shot Pittsburgh would exercise Jones’ fifth-year option ($19.07MM), and Omar Khan did not confirm Jones would be ready for training camp. That will make the left tackle position — in a stopgap scenario at the very least — one to monitor in Pittsburgh.
- Tyler Linderbaum‘s Raiders deal keeps looking more impressive. Already locked in to what is practically a three-year, $81MM fully guaranteed contract, the new Raiders center secured a no-tag clause for 2029, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. No center has been franchise- or transition-tagged since the Panthers cuffed Ryan Kalil with a franchise tag in 2011. Then again, no center (or guard) has approached Linderbaum’s $27MM-AAV accord. With tackles, guards and center grouped together on the tag, a 2029 Linderbaum tender would have been highly unlikely. But, showcasing the leverage the three-time Pro Bowler held in free agency, he secured this deal point anyway.
- The Giants re-signed Joshua Ezeudu earlier today; this came after the team hosted veteran guard Ryan Bates on a visit, Wilson adds. Bates spent the past two seasons with the Bears, starting only two games in two Chicago seasons, but he played out a four-year, $17MM Bills deal — one designed by Chicago via a 2022 RFA offer sheet — last season. The Giants have been stingy at guard despite making a strong push for Alijah Vera-Tucker, and options are dwindling. Though, ex-John Harbaugh Ravens charge Daniel Faalele remains available.
- Wyatt Teller played right guard throughout his Browns tenure, with LG staple Joel Bitonio in place on the other side for 12 seasons, but Wilson indicates a willingness on the new Texans signee’s part to switch sides. With 2025 Houston RG Ed Ingram re-signed, Wilson points to Teller playing left guard in 2026. Wilson also posits a scenario in which Evan Brown competes with incumbent Jake Andrews for the center position. While the Cardinals used Brown at guard over the past two seasons, he has logged full seasons at center — for the Seahawks and Lions — in the past.
- As Teller leaves Cleveland after six-plus seasons and Bitonio not certain to return, the Browns added three guard options (though, guard/tackle Tytus Howard is expected to play RT following a trade). Howard’s two-year, $45MM Browns extension includes $34.5MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. Option bonuses exist in 2027 ($18.41MM) and ’28 ($14.36MM), and $13.5MM of Howard’s 2027 compensation is guaranteed at signing. Howard is due a $4MM roster bonus in 2028, per Spotrac. Zion Johnson‘s three-year, $49.5MM Browns deal includes $27.83MM fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets. Two option bonuses are in place here, with Wilson adding the ex-Chargers guard will be due a $3MM roster bonus if on Cleveland’s roster by Day 3 of the 2028 league year. $13.57MM of Johnson’s 2027 compensation is fully guaranteed.
- The Saints‘ Dillon Radunz deal is worth $6.9MM over two years, with ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell noting it includes $3.5MM guaranteed.
- Adding center Luke Fortner and tackle Stone Forsythe, the Panthers kept costs low for both. A 2025 Saints trade pickup, Fortner is tied to a one-year deal worth $2.75MM ($1.33MM guaranteed), Wilson adds. Coming over from the Raiders, Forsythe signed a one-year, $2MM pact with $500K guaranteed (per Wilson).
NFC Contract Details: Phillips, Saints, Evans, Bears, Cowboys, Packers, Giants, Cardinals, Eagles
We covered a batch of contract details from the AFC earlier today. Here are the numbers from some of the NFC’s biggest deals from free agency’s first wave:
- Jaelan Phillips, OLB (Panthers). Four years, $120MM. Of Phillips’ $80MM guarantee, $60MM is locked in at signing (per SI.com’s Albert Breer). Phillips secured an early guarantee as well, according to OverTheCap, with $20MM of his 2028 base salary becoming guaranteed on Day 3 of the 2027 league year.
- David Edwards, G (Saints). Four years, $61MM. Edwards secured $45MM guaranteed, according to ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell, with $40MM at signing (via OverTheCap). The Saints gave Edwards — who was tied to a two-year, $6MM Bills deal from 2024-25 — guarantees through 2028, with Terrell indicating $10MM of the guard’s $15MM 2028 base salary is locked in at signing (Edwards’ full guarantee ranks sixth among guards). The remaining $5MM in 2028 compensation vests on Day 3 of the ’28 league year, per OverTheCap. Edwards is also due a $1MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2029 league year, Terrell adds.
- Mike Evans, WR (49ers). Three years, $42.5MM. Evans will receive $14.3MM guaranteed at signing, according to OverTheCap. Two nonguaranteed option bonuses are included in the deal, per ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner, who indicates a $12.05MM option bonus is in place for 2027 and a $10.95MM bonus for 2028. Four void years are in place on the deal, which includes $4.25MM, $7.31MM and $9.7MM cap numbers. Essentially, this is a one-year, $14.3MM accord with team options.
- Coby Bryant, S (Bears). Three years, $40MM. Bryant landed $25.75MM fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets. Bryant secured a Year 2 fully guaranteed base salary ($12.25MM), SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. A $500K roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2028 league year.
- Jermaine Eluemunor, RT (Giants). Three years, $39MM. Eluemunor secured a $25.45MM guarantee at signing, Wilson adds. (This comes after he played out a two-year, $14MM deal.) Eluemunor received $12.15MM of his $12.4MM 2027 salary guaranteed (via OverTheCap).
- Kaden Elliss, LB (Saints). Three years, $33MM. Of that total, Terrell notes $23MM is fully guaranteed. Both Elliss’ 2026 and ’27 base salaries are fully guaranteed; his 2028 compensation is nonguaranteed.
- Sean Rhyan, OL (Packers). Three years, $33MM. Per Packers non-QB norms, Rhyan’s signing bonus ($11MM) represents his only fully guaranteed money. Green Bay included a $6.65MM roster bonus, which ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky is due on Day 3 of the 2027 league year. A $3MM roster bonus is due on Day 3 of the ’28 league year, Demovsky adds.
- Isaac Seumalo, G (Cardinals). Three years, $31.5MM. Seumalo secured $19MM guaranteed, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, with $15MM fully guaranteed. Semualo received $3MM of his 2027 base salary ($8MM) guaranteed at signing; another $4MM of the 2027 salary locks in on Day 3 of the 2027 league year, per OverTheCap.
- Javonte Williams, RB (Cowboys). Three years, $24MM. Williams scored $16MM at signing. His 2026 and ’27 base salaries are locked in, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. There are $3MM — $1MM per year — in per-game roster bonuses.
- Riq Woolen, CB (Eagles). One year, $12MM. The deal is fully guaranteed, according to OverTheCap. Seeing as this is the Eagles, there are four void years included in this contract. If he is not re-signed before the deal voids in 2027, the Eagles would be hit with $8.59MM in dead money.
49ers To Sign WR Christian Kirk
Not content to stop with Mike Evans, the 49ers are signing another veteran wide receiver. The team has agreed to a one-year, $6MM contract with Christian Kirk, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports.
An eight-year pro who has divided his career among Arizona, Jacksonville and Houston, Kirk will join the recently signed Evans, Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins in San Francisco’s remade receiving corps.
The 49ers lost Kendrick Bourne and Skyy Moore earlier in free agency, while Jauan Jennings remains unsigned despite serving as their most productive wideout in 2025. They are also expected to lose Brandon Aiyuk via release or trade. Earlier today, Matt Barrows of The Athletic labeled the 49ers a strong candidate to make another receiver addition.
Kirk, a Texas A&M product who came off the board in the second round in 2018, averaged 59 catches, 726 yards and four touchdowns per season on his four-year rookie contract. That was enough to earn a four-year, $72MM contract with the Jaguars in March 2022.
Playing the second 17-game season of his career, Kirk posted personal highs in catches (84), yards (1,108) and touchdowns (eight) in his first year in Jacksonville. However, both his production and health have fallen off since then. After Kirk combined for 84 grabs, 1,166 yards and four scores over 20 games from 2023-24, the Jaguars traded the 5-foot-11, 200-pounder to the Texans for a 2026 seventh-rounder.
Kirk went through another injury-limited year in 2025, during which hamstring troubles held him to 13 games. The 29-year-old lined up in the slot for 73.2% of snaps and hauled in 28 of 52 targets for 239 yards, a career-low 8.5 YPC and a score. Those numbers did not help Kirk’s cause during a platform year, though he turned heads in the Texans’ wild-card round win over the Steelers. In a 30-6 blowout, Kirk torched Pittsburgh for eight receptions on nine targets, 144 yards and a TD. While Kirk only caught two of six targets for 20 yards in a loss to the Patriots in the divisional round, he picked up another score in what will go down as his last game as a Texan.
Barring an unexpected development, San Francisco’s addition of Kirk could close the door on Jennings’ five-year tenure with the franchise. PFR’s 18th-ranked free agent, Jennings is surprisingly still on the market in the wake of back-to-back strong seasons.