49ers To Sign CB Nate Hobbs
Nate Hobbs has quickly found a new home. After getting cut by the Packers earlier this week, the cornerback is signing with the 49ers, according to Jordan Schultz. It’s one-year deal for the cornerback. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero says the deal could be worth up to $4.5MM.
[RELATED: Packers To Release CB Nate Hobbs]
After completing his rookie contract with the Raiders, Hobbs inked a four-year, $48MM deal with the Packers last offseason. The cornerback’s injury problems persisted in Green Bay, where he dealt with knee issues for much of the campaign. It started with a meniscus issue in training camp, and it concluded with a season-ending MCL injury. The 26-year-old ultimately got in 11 games (five starts) during his lone season with the Packers.
Instead of facing the second year of Hobbs’ contract, the Packers moved on from him earlier this week. The move created $8.84MM in cap savings for the Packers while generating a dead money charge of $4MM.
The 2021 fifth-round pick impressed as a rookie, including a fifth-place ranking in Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings. He struggled to reach that ceiling over the next three years, with Hobbs often finding himself in and out of the starting lineup with the Raiders. He finished his tenure in Las Vegas with 281 stops and three interceptions.
Hobbs will get another chance to show what he’s got in San Francisco. However, if he wants to serve as more than a backup, he’ll have to leap the incumbents. At the moment, the 49ers are set to return basically their entire CB corps, including Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, and Upton Stout.
49ers DE Bryce Huff To Retire
After six years in the NFL, 49ers defensive end Bryce Huff is calling it a career. Huff announced his retirement on Instagram on Thursday (via Nick Wagoner of ESPN).
Huff, 27, was traded to the 49ers last offseason and appeared in 15 games during the regular season. He recorded four sacks and six tackles for loss, the second-best production of his career that was still disappointing relative to double-digit totals in both categories in 2023.
The former Memphis standout signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and carved out a rotational role on the defensive line as a rookie. He put up 7.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss in his first three years, though peripheral metrics like his pass rush win rate suggested he had more to offer.
That turned out to be the case in 2023, when he put up 10 sacks and 10 tackles for loss to go along with a 22.9% PRWR that ranked third among defensive linemen, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Huff peaked at the right time and earned a three-yera, $51MM payday from the Eagles with $34MM in guaranteed money.
A disappointing follow-up effort led the Eagles to reconsider their investment, and they ended up trading Huff to the 49ers for a conditional Day 3 pick. He rebounded upon reuniting with Robert Saleh, his head coach in New York, leading the 49ers with 46 pressures.
Huff was due just over $17MM in 2026 with a $5.4MM cap hit, per OverTheCap, but his retirement will wipe both of those numbers off San Francisco’s books. The 49ers will now be looking for edge-rushing depth with Yetur Gross-Matos and Clelin Ferrell also hitting free agency.
Huff will leave the NFL with 81 appearances (21 starts), 24.0 sacks, and 26 tackles for loss to his name, along with just over $40MM in career earnings. In his retirement announcement, he revealed his post-playing plans of starting a company to build safety infrastructure to reduce fire risk when using lithium batteries.
NFC West Notes: Austin, Gannon, Cards, Conner, Hawks, Curl, Rams, 49ers
While Arthur Smith is heading to the college ranks (as Ohio State’s OC) after Mike Tomlin‘s resignation, longtime Steelers DC Teryl Austin landed another NFL gig. Austin is taking over as a senior assistant with the Cardinals, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. This is a return Arizona trip for Austin, who was on Ken Whisenhunt‘s staff with the Cardinals previously. The three-time NFL DC served as Cardinals DBs coach from 2007-10, being part of the franchise’s Super Bowl XLIII team. Now 61, Austin — who interviewed for the Commanders’ DC job — will join Mike LaFleur‘s staff to provide experience under 32-year-old DC Nick Rallis.
Here is the latest from around the NFC West:
- Shortly before Week 18, a report indicated Jonathan Gannon was likelier to return for a fourth season than be fired. But the Cardinals axed their HC after a 3-14 season. Considering the step back from an 8-9 2024, it didn’t seem off base to fire Gannon. But those in the organization were surprised Michael Bidwill cut the cord, per ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss, who adds others around the league were caught off-guard by that ouster. Gannon landed HC and DC interviews following his firing and ended up as the Packers’ defensive boss. Arizona retained Rallis, though multiple candidates dropped out of their hiring process, under new HC Mike LaFleur.
- The Cardinals’ James Conner pay cut comes out to a one-year, $3MM deal that KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes contains $2.1MM guaranteed. Conner signed a two-year, $19MM extension in 2024 but missed most of last season due to injury. The $2.1MM guarantee number does not exactly lock in the 10th-year veteran for 2026, especially with the Cards changing staffs, but the longtime Arizona starter will have a shot.
- The Seahawks lost several Super Bowl starters but retained two by re-signing Rashid Shaheed and Josh Jobe. Shaheed’s three-year, $51MM contract includes $34.7MM guaranteed; of the latter total, $23MM is guaranteed at signing (per OverTheCap). None of that guarantee covers 2027, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano tweets. Shaheed’s $11.74MM 2027 base salary is guaranteed for injury; it shifts to a full guarantee five days after Super Bowl LXI. That gives Seattle a potential early out, as this contract is structured like Sam Darnold‘s and Cooper Kupp‘s. As for Jobe, his three-year, $24MM pact, $9.25MM is fully guaranteed. Wilson adds $14.25MM is guaranteed in total, with $5MM of his $6.49MM 2027 base salary also becoming guaranteed five days after Super Bowl LXI.
- Jaylen Watson joins ex-Chiefs teammate Trent McDuffie with the Rams, who gave the multiyear Kansas City CB2 a three-year, $51MM contract. Of Watson’s $34MM guaranteed, $26.5MM is locked in at signing (per OverTheCap). The Rams are giving Watson an $11MM guarantee on his 2027 base salary ($13.99MM), according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. The remaining $2.99MM shifts to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2027 league year. Elsewhere in the L.A. secondary, Kamren Curl‘s three-year, $36MM deal includes $18.75MM guaranteed at signing (per OverTheCap). Of Curl’s $11.6MM 2027 base salary, Wilson notes $7MM is fully guaranteed. The rest shifts from an injury guarantee on Day 3 of the ’27 league year. Curl will be due a $3.43MM roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2028 league year, Wilson adds.
- Shifting back to the Cardinals, the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin notes their Kendrick Bourne contract includes $6.5MM fully guaranteed. Initially reported as an $11.47MM deal, Bourne’s base value is $10MM (via OverTheCap). As for D-tackle Roy Lopez‘s Arizona return (for two years and $10.5MM), Wilson adds the veteran received $1MM of his $3.47MM 2027 base salary guaranteed for injury. That shifts to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2027 league year.
- The 49ers identified their replacement for tight ends coach Brian Fleury, who left to take the Seahawks’ OC job. Cameron Clemmons will slide from assistant O-line coach to that spot, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco notes. Previously the Raiders’ assistant O-line coach, Clemmons has been on the 49ers’ staff since 2024. San Francisco is also adding Kent State O-line coach Angel Matute to their staff, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz tweets.
49ers Acquire DT Osa Odighizuwa From Cowboys
Osa Odighizuwa will be on the move after all. A trade has been agreed to which will send the veteran defensive tackle from the Cowboys to the 49ers, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. The deal is now official.
San Francisco will send Dallas a third-round pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds. As such, the Cowboys will add the No. 92 selection in April’s draft. The team did not own a second- or third-rounder in 2026 prior to this agreement.
[RELATED: Cowboys Trade DL Solomon Thomas To Titans]
A report from Tuesday indicated teams were showing trade interest in Odighizuwa. Dallas already has Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams on the books. The Cowboys also lined up a deal with free agent Otito Ogbonnia, adding further to their depth at the defensive tackle spot. Inquirers from the Bengals did not yield traction, but Dallas clearly remained open to moving forward with a swap in this case. The team will create $4.75MM in cap space while generating $16MM in dead money.
The Cowboys will clear Odighizuwa’s $16.25MM salary in 2026 as a result of this trade. The 49ers, meanwhile, will take on the remainder of his contract; the pact runs through 2028. Odighizuwa inked a four-year, $80MM deal last offseason, but the arrivals of Clark and Williams threatened to cut into his playing time. A heavy workload will await him in the Bay Area, while Dallas will not face the challenge of maintaining three DTs attached to large contracts.
As Schultz confirms, the 49ers were among the runners-up for free agent John Franklin-Myers. The former Bronco wound up agreeing to a lucrative deal with the Titans. San Francisco has pivoted in short order. In addition to wideout Mike Evans, this constitutes certainly a significant addition on the part of general manager John Lynch early in the new league year.
Jordan Elliott lined up an agreement with Tennessee during the early stages of free agency, thinning out the 49ers’ defensive line. Odighizuwa will help serve as a replacement, and he will be counted on to remain a strong contributor against the pass in particular on his new team. The 27-year-old has recorded between 3.0 and 4.5 sacks each season since his rookie campaign. He totaled 64 QB pressures over the past two years, and disruption on that level would be welcomed in San Francisco.
The injury-ravaged 49ers ranked last in the NFL in sacks this past season. A healthy year from Nick Bosa and others would of course go a long way in helping the team bounce back in that regard. Nevertheless, Odighizuwa’s arrival should provide a pass rush boost along the interior for 2026 and beyond.
49ers To Sign OL Brett Toth
Following his third stint with the Eagles, Brett Toth will be playing elsewhere in 2026. The veteran offensive lineman is signing with the 49ers, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
It’s a one-year deal for Toth. While the financials aren’t known, Fowler notes that 95 percent of the deal will be guaranteed.
After redshirting as a rookie with the Eagles (first stint) and Cardinals, Toth finally got an opportunity to play for Philly during the 2020 campaign. He got into 11 games the following year, but a serious knee injury suffered in Week 17 knocked him out for the entire 2022 season.
He got into three games with the Panthers when he returned from injury in 2023, but the Eagles were quick to snag him back at the end of that year. That marked Toth’s third stint with the team, and he’s exclusively been with the organization ever since.
He was forced on the team’s playoff roster in 2024, and he ended up having the most significant role of his career this past year. He finished 2025 having appeared in 17 games (four starts). Pro Football Focus actually ranked him 13th among 79 qualifying guards, although that score was solely supported by his run-blocking abilities.
The 49ers dealt with a number of injuries on their offensive line last year, so the team will surely take whatever depth they can get. The front office has already brought in veteran Vederian Lowe, although Trent Williams‘ future with the organization remains uncertain.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/11/26
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-signed: RB Zonovan Knight
- Signed: LS Casey Kreiter
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: C Corey Levin, LB Channing Tindall
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: DE Trevis Gipson, TE James Mitchell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Jack Stoll
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Tyrus Wheat
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: FB Adam Prentice
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: OLB Brenton Cox, DT Jonathan Ford
Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-signed: LS Josh Harris
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: S Zayne Anderson, TE Ben Sims
New England Patriots
- Signed: S Mike Brown, TE Julian Hill
New York Giants
- Re-signed: LB Zaire Barnes
New York Jets
- Re-signed: OT Max Mitchell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: OL Jack Driscoll
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: RB Patrick Taylor
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: LS Chris Stoll
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DE Malik Herring
49ers, TE Jake Tonges Agree To Deal
The 49ers and restricted free agent tight end Jake Tonges have agreed to a two-year, $8MM deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Tonges’ contract includes $5.5MM in guarantees.
This is a nice raise for the 26-year-old Tonges, who was relatively anonymous entering last season. At that point, Tonges had not even caught an NFL pass since he entered the league as a UDFA with Chicago in 2022. Tonges played four games with the Bears as a rookie, but he did not stay in the organization for a second year.
After Chicago waived Tonges in August 2023, the former Cal pass catcher returned to the state to join the 49ers’ practice squad. Tonges did not see any game action in his first year with the 49ers, but he played a big role on their special teams in 2024. He racked up 232 ST snaps, good for fourth on the team, over 16 games.
Tonges put up his second straight 232-snap season on special teams last year. He also became a contributor on the 49ers’ offense, which turned to him for 399 snaps.
A Week 1 hamstring injury to star tight end George Kittle enabled Tonges to step up. He caught his first three passes, including a touchdown, in their season-opening win over the Seahawks. Kittle did not return until Week 7. By then, Tonges had already hauled in 25 passes for 234 yards and three scores. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder finished the year with 34 catches on 46 targets, 293 yards and five TDs in 17 games.
Kittle suffered a torn Achilles in the 49ers’ wild-card round win over the Eagles. The injury will cost Kittle at least some of next season, making it even more important for the 49ers to keep Tonges as insurance.
49ers Plan To Release Brandon Aiyuk; Commanders Most Likely Landing Spot?
The Brandon Aiyuk saga is nearing an end in San Francisco. The 49ers plan to release the wide receiver, Nick Wagoner of ESPN reports. The team could cut Aiyuk as early as today, per Wagoner, who points to the Commanders as his most likely landing spot.
A 49er since they spent the 25th pick on him in 2020, Aiyuk immediately became a key part of head coach Kyle Shanahan‘s offense. During his best season, 2023, Aiyuk hauled in 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns to earn second-team All-Pro honors. A lengthy contract standoff between Aiyuk and the 49ers occurred during the next offseason.
Unable to reach a deal, San Francisco had an Aiyuk trade in place with Pittsburgh in August 2024. However, after the Steelers’ extension offer for Aiyuk fell short, he agreed to stay with the 49ers two weeks later.
The 49ers kept Aiyuk around with a four-year, $120MM proposal that included $76MM in guarantees, but they will end up receiving little to nothing from the investment. Over his first seven games in 2024, Aiyuk caught just 25 of 47 targets for 374 yards and no scores. His season ended with a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7. Aiyuk has not suited up since then.
While Aiyuk was recovering from his injury last July, the 49ers voided the remaining guarantees on his contract. The team had issues with his rehab effort, and Shanahan revealed that Aiyuk was “extremely distant” during the process. Aiyuk could have filed a grievance against the 49ers through the NFLPA, but he let the 50-day window expire and lost over $26MM.
With Aiyuk still on the reserve/PUP list at the beginning of December, general manager John Lynch expressed hope that he would return down the stretch. Any chance of that vanished when the 49ers put the 27-year-old on the reserve/left squad list on Dec. 13. Lynch said in late January that the 49ers would move on from Aiyuk this offseason, though he has held out for a trade. With the new league year commencing Wednesday afternoon, it does not appear Lynch will find a taker for Aiyuk.
If the 49ers designate Aiyuk a post-June 1 release, they will spread almost $35MM in dead money over the next two seasons ($13.33MM in 2026, $21.25MM in ’27). The team will save $1.32MM on next year’s cap, though those funds will not be available until June.
Once he reaches the open market, Aiyuk will immediately become one of the most talented players available. However, considering the bizarre turn his 49ers tenure took, the 6-foot, 200-pounder will likely have to settle for a short-term contract.
For multiple reasons, Washington has stood out as an obvious Aiyuk fit for months. The team is cognizant of how much he wants to play there, according to John Keim of ESPN. Aiyuk would reunite with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels seven years after the two established a rapport at Arizona State in 2019. Adam Peters, now the Commanders’ GM, was in the 49ers’ front office when they drafted Aiyuk a year later.
With the Commanders in need of receivers beyond No. 1 option Terry McLaurin, Peters has been aggressive on this year’s market. Peters tried to sign Alec Pierce and Romeo Doubs before they reeled in lucrative paydays elsewhere. Having come up empty in those pursuits, Peters could turn his attention to Aiyuk soon.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/10/26
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Re-signed: WR Dayton Wade
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: WR David Moore, DE LaBryan Ray
- Waived: DT Popo Aumavae
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: OL Darian Kinnard
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Jake Hummel
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: TE Johnny Mundt
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: WR Nikko Remigio
Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-signed: CB Deane Leonard
New York Giants
- Re-signed: CB Art Green
- Signed: LB Caleb Murphy
- Waived: S Anthony Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: LB Garret Wallow
49ers Setting ‘Astronomical’ Price On QB Mac Jones
With Malik Willis just scoring a three-year, $67.5MM deal with full guarantees through 2027, the 49ers are sitting on a valuable asset. Their two-year, $7MM contract for Mac Jones includes one more season, and San Francisco saw how capable the former New England first-rounder was during his debut Bay Area slate.
Although the Dolphins filled their quarterback need, a few bridge-type jobs remain available. Teams are still calling the 49ers on Jones, but The Athletic’s Dianna Russini describes a price clubs are deeming “astronomical.” This is not the first time we’ve heard the 49ers setting a high price on their backup, and considering Brock Purdy‘s 2025 injury trouble, it makes sense for the team to stand firm here.
Last week, a report emerged indicating the 49ers are targeting more than a second-rounder in a return. And we have heard for weeks the 49ers will not part with Jones without a big asset coming back. This illustrates how high Jones’ trade value has climbed — and highlights the supply-and-demand ratio at this position — after the once-demoted Patriots starter was dealt to the Jaguars for a sixth-rounder in 2024. After making eight starts in 2025 — to the point the skill gap between he and Purdy was being debated — Jones is a hot commodity.
Debating Jones’ effectiveness outside Kyle Shanahan‘s system is worthwhile; after all, Jimmy Garoppolo fizzled in Las Vegas. But Sam Darnold‘s recent success, after a year as Purdy’s backup, will do nothing to cool Jones’ market. The 49ers could also determine they can groom a similar backup behind Purdy, possibly opening the door to the team ultimately taking the best offer this offseason and using the asset in the draft. The 49ers could lose this opportunity soon, as Jones will be a 2027 free agent. But he also represents valuable injury insurance for one of the NFL’s most injury-prone teams.
The Jets are trading for Geno Smith, and the Falcons are signing Tua Tagovailoa. But a handful of teams — the Browns, Steelers and Vikings among them — are still looking for options. The Cardinals agreed to sign Gardner Minshew, pairing him with Jacoby Brissett. That might not be Arizona’s last QB move, but after being connected to Willis, the team may stand down and wage a stopgap-type battle. Meanwhile, the 49ers are waiting for a monster offer for a player who held little trade value not too long ago.