The 49ers elected to go the veteran route in free agency, and did not reap the rewards
The 2024 offseason was a time for reloading and retooling the 49ers roster. Coming off a Super Bowl berth, the 49ers felt the team was as close as ever to getting over the hump. Returning all-pros like Nick Bosa, Trent Williams, Fred Warner, Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Charvarius Ward meant the roster would round out with veteran free agents for experience and depth.
John Lynch and the 49ers organization brought in DE Leonard Floyd, CB Chase Lucas, LB Ezekiel Turner, OT Brandon Parker, CB Isaac Yiadom, CB Rock Ya-Sin, DT Jordan Elliott, QB Josh Dobbs, DE Yetur Gross-Matos, DT Maliek Collins, and LB De’Vondre Campbell. G Jon Feliciano, LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, S George Odum, DT Kevin Givens, WR Chris Conley, and QB Brandon Allen returned to the team.
With the 2024 49ers draft class adding to the roster, the 49ers felt confident with the team they built to make another run to the Super Bowl. Following a season where the team was disappointed with a 6-11 record and now holds the 11th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, what were the returns on the 49ers’ free-agent acquisitions?
Pro Football Focus named their best and worst free agent signings for each team in 2024. Dalton Wasserman of PFF selected Yiadom as the 49ers’ best signing and wrote: “The 49ers quietly had a relatively unproductive free-agent class this season. Yiadom was one of the better players, but even his production is highlighted by a 76.1 run-defense grade that doesn’t do much to counter his 55.3 coverage grade.”
Wasserman highlights the disappointing returns on the entire free agent class but praised Yiadom’s run defense, although you would trade that for better coverage from a cornerback.
For Wasserman’s selection for the worst 49er free agent signing, the obvious answer would be Campbell, right? The veteran quit on his team during an elimination game on national television and was poor on the field during his opportunities.
Wasserman selected DT Jordan Elliott and wrote: “Elliott struggled in what could be his lone season in San Francisco, as he did during his four years in Cleveland. His 47.6 overall grade is actually the second-highest of his career, but it certainly isn’t the mark of a starting-caliber player.”
Leonard Floyd was probably the most consistent free agent, as the veteran was on the field for every down, and even Maliek Collins flashed as a situational pass rusher.
Heading into this offseason, the 49ers have a multitude of ways to restock the cupboard with a full draft class and free agency opportunities. Will this free-agent group exceed last year’s? What are your thoughts? Did you agree with Wasserman’s selections? Let us know in the comments.