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San Francisco 49ers News & Rumors

49ers Release Leonard Floyd

March 11th, 2025 at 12:31pm CST by Adam La Rose

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

March 11th, 2025 at 8:45am CST by Adam La Rose

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 Warren. The 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 Grant. Schefter’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

March 10th, 2025 at 10:41pm CST by Ely Allen

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

Dallas Cowboys

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

March 10th, 2025 at 8:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

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.

QB Jameis Winston In Conversation With 49ers, Chargers

March 10th, 2025 at 6:27pm CST by Ely Allen

It’s looks like West Coast could be the best coast for veteran quarterback Jameis Winston, as senior NFL insider Josina Anderson reports that the recent backup has been in conversation with the 49ers and Chargers for potential backup roles. While it doesn’t appear that he’s a priority in New York, Anderson notes that the Giants could get involved here, too, depending on the outcome of talks with other passing options.

The former No. 1 overall pick from the 2015 NFL Draft has slowly seen a demotion in his NFL career, going from a full-time starter in Tampa Bay to part-time starting roles in New Orleans and Cleveland. During a five-year stint to start his career with the Buccaneers, Winston had started most every game that he was available, aside from a short period in 2018 as he served a suspension for allegedly groping a female Uber driver and had to win his job back from Ryan Fitzpatrick.

In 2020, he signed with the Saints as a backup to Drew Brees but took over the starting job the next year, before suffering a season-ending ACL tear. The following two years saw him serve in New Orleans as a backup to Andy Dalton and Derek Carr. This past season, he signed on with the Browns to serve as a backup to Deshaun Watson, ultimately finding himself in the starting lineup once again when Watson was ruled out for the season with an Achilles tendon tear.

Both situations in San Francisco and Los Angeles are obvious backup situations behind young quarterbacks who have an extremely solid hold on their starting jobs. The Chargers recently gave Justin Herbert an extension that, at the time, made him the highest-paid player in the NFL, though he was quickly surpassed by Joe Burrow. Brock Purdy isn’t quite there yet, though he will finally make multi-millions in 2025, but the 49ers have been in conversations about extending him for some time now.

In San Francisco, the 49ers would be bringing in Winston as an improvement over Tanner Mordecai, as Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen head to free agency this week. The Chargers are simply looking to fill their depth chart at the position as they currently don’t have anyone under contract behind Herbert; Taylor Heinicke and Easton Stick are set to be free agents, as well.

The Giants have several options on the table as the explore options with veteran free agents like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson after watching other options like Sam Darnold and Justin Fields come off the market. Winston would actually be a smart signing for them as they’ve also been heavily linked to using their No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on a quarterback. If they do draft a passer in the first round, Winston has proved he can be an effective starter to bridge the gap until the rookie is ready to take over.

49ers, TE Luke Farrell Agree To Deal

March 10th, 2025 at 2:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the 49ers look to continue George Kittle‘s tenure with the team, another tight end investment is being made. Luke Farrell has agreed to a three-year contract with San Francisco, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Farrell will earn $11MM guaranteed, per Rapoport. The pact has a maximum value of $20.25MM. The 27-year-old has cashed in considerably after playing out his rookie contract with the Jaguars.

Kittle is unsurprisingly on San Francisco’s extension radar, having established a Hall of Fame case with the team, but the 49ers lost multiple backups — Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley — last year. They also saw the Lions match their Brock Wright RFA offer sheet. Farrell will arrive in San Francisco as a contributor more as a blocker than receiver.

Kyle Shanahan’s offense features extensive blocking assignments from his tight ends, as Kittle fantasy GMs know quite well, and Farrell comes in after seeing 238 run-blocking snaps (compared to just 103 as a receiver) last season. Urban Meyer drafted Farrell in the fifth round out of Ohio State, after coaching him with the Buckeyes, but Doug Pederson became Farrell’s primary NFL coach. The 27-year-old Ohio native has yet to score an NFL touchdown but has missed only two games during a four-year career.

The 49ers’ second-most used tight end from last season — Eric Saubert — is a free agent. Farrell appears all set to fill that role behind Kittle. Though, the 49ers may need to keep shopping if they want a another reserve tight end with notable receiving chops.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Dolphins Interested In Joey Bosa; 49ers Moving Close To Deal?

March 9th, 2025 at 8:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins, who have some familiarity with the Bosa family (albeit decades ago), have entered the mix for Joey Bosa. Although the free agent edge rusher may well join his brother in San Francisco, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicates the Dolphins are expected to show strong interest.

Joey and Nick Bosa‘s father, John, was a first-round Dolphins draftee in 1987. While many changes have obviously occurred since, Dan Marino remains part of the organization. The Dolphins have carved out $25MM in cap space, though the 49ers are holding more than $34MM.

This also may be a foregone conclusion, as the most predictable path appears to still be the most likely. The two active Bosas want to play together, and The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kakakami notes Joey Bosa and the 49ers have engaged in good conversations. Signs are pointing toward Joey Bosa joining his brother and former Ohio State teammate soon, as it might be hard to dissuade the 29-year-old free agent from joining his brother. Joey Bosa has already earned $142MM in the NFL.

A 49ers deal would place Joey in position to start opposite his brother, giving Nick his most talented complementary edge rusher since entering the pros. The 49ers immediately came up as a Joey Bosa suitor, which separates this situation from J.J. Watt‘s free agency in 2021. The Steelers did not emerge as an aggressive participant in the oldest Watt brother’s free agency, though J.J. did say he considered joining T.J. Watt in Pittsburgh.

Joey Bosa’s injury trouble will impact his market, becoming perhaps the defining component, so the two known pursuers will need to weight talent with risk here. The Dolphins remain an injury-riddled operation on the edge, as Bradley Chubb missed all of 2024 with the injury he suffered in Week 17 of the ’23 season. Jaelan Phillips also sustained a season-ending injury for a second straight year. The team did see Chop Robinson show some promise, but Chubb and Phillips have reached career crossroads. Chubb recently accepted a pay cut to stay in Miami; one season remains on Phillips’ rookie deal.

Those injuries left the Dolphins exposed last year, as Shaquil Barrett‘s retirement followed suit. Bosa would not represent the safest bet, but he is one of the most talented players available.

NFL Minor Transactions: 3/7/25

March 7th, 2025 at 8:59pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor NFL moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

49ers Interested In Jonathan Allen; Vikings In Play For DT?

March 7th, 2025 at 12:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jonathan Allen came up during the 49ers’ talks with the Commanders on Deebo Samuel. While the All-Pro wide receiver was eventually traded to Washington, the sides could not agree on an Allen inclusion. Now free from his second-tier defensive tackle contract, Allen will be available to the 49ers.

As they are with Joey Bosa, the 49ers are expected to show interest, per the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch. Allen, 30, will likely hear from a few teams. The Vikings may be ready to explore an addition as well, NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay adds.

The Commanders had given Allen permission to seek a trade, during a Combine week in which many teams did the same. These moves regularly lead to releases, and Allen is now off his four-year, $72MM contract. He was set to earn a $17MM base salary next season, which impacted a minimal trade market. The proven interior pass rusher was entering a contract year; he can now explore the market after multiple waves of DT deals dropped his Washington extension in the pecking order.

San Francisco’s Allen interest also comes as the team is releasing Javon Hargrave. The 2023 free agency addition — given a $21MM-per-year deal — will be a post-June 1 cut. Teams cannot officially move on from post-June 1 players until Wednesday, but Hargrave is no longer in the team’s plans. With Hargrave set to follow Arik Armstead out the door, the 49ers have some work to do at D-tackle. The 49ers also have Kevin Givens set for free agency.

Jordan Elliott and fellow 2024 acquisition Maliek Collins remain on the 49ers’ roster at DT, but Allen is much more accomplished. The eight-year Washington cog has 42 career sacks, having teams with Alabama teammate Daron Payne for seven seasons in the nation’s capital. Payne is all that remains from Washington’s four-first-rounder D-line stable, as the team traded Montez Sweat and Chase Young in 2023. Allen has more Pro Bowls than any of those players, having made two (in 2021 and ’22). After posting 19 QB hits in 2023, Allen suffered a partially torn pec and missed nine games last season.

The Vikings still have Harrison Phillips up front, but starters Jonathan Bullard and Jerry Tillery are on track for free agency. Minnesota, which has most of its starting secondary uncertain to return in 2025, saved some money by not franchise-tagging Sam Darnold. Although the team is interested in retaining the QB at a lower rate, it has work to do on defense.

49ers Interested In Joey Bosa

March 6th, 2025 at 11:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chargers gave Joey Bosa a pay cut last year, but the sides did not work out another such arrangement. As a result, Bosa has become a high-profile free agent. As the Chargers already announced the cut, Bosa can sign before the legal tampering period begins.

One obvious suitor looms as an intriguing fit. A Bosa-Bosa defensive end tag team will be in play, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates the 49ers will be an option for the older of the two Bosa standouts. While it will come down to price, ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner also notes San Francisco is interested in giving Nick Bosa the most familiar sidekick possible.

Injuries presented a constant concern for Joey Bosa with the Chargers; he has missed 23 games over the past three seasons. It is not like the former Chargers pass-rushing ace was injured every year, as he played 16 games 2017, 2019 and 2021, but he was often unavailable. That represents the main reason he is on the market as opposed to preparing for a 10th Bolts season. Now that Los Angeles made the 29-year-old EDGE available, Pro Football Talk Mike Florio points to a “frenzied” market emerging.

A five-time Pro Bowler, Joey Bosa was a top-three pick (No. 3 overall) three years before the 49ers took Nick Bosa second. He has not, however, earned a first- or second-team All-Pro slot like Nick has. Even if Joey Bosa is a high-second-tier pass rusher at this stage of his career, he adds a major piece to this year’s free agent market — one featuring some notable players (Josh Sweat and ex-Bosa teammate Khalil Mack) hunting for a third contract. Joey Bosa being four years younger than Mack will help his cause, even if the latter has been much healthier over the course of his career. Mack missed one game during his three Bolts seasons.

Joey Bosa has four double-digit sack seasons, but the last came in 2021. He would stand to, however, give Nick the best complementary edge player he has played with in the pros. The 49ers have both Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos under contract, but each came up as a release candidate recently. The team has tinkered with Nick Bosa’s supporting cast often during the star defender’s tenure, but no move has landed on the level a Joey Bosa addition would. We could have an answer on this reunion before free agency starts Monday.

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