Was it one of the rookies or free agent signings, or a new member of the coaching staff that helped improve the 49ers the most this offseason?
The San Francisco 49ers‘ roster turnover was inevitable heading into the 2025 offseason after a 6-win season in which they suffered an identity crisis on defense and injuries to their best players on offense.
Judging by how John Lynch and the front office addressed the offensive needs, the team is optimistic that Brandon Ayiuk, Christian McCaffrey, and Trent Williams will return to their 2023 form.
We’ll discuss the best offseason addition as we talk through them. Here’s a look at the new players on the offensive side of the ball:
WR Demarcus Robinson
WR Jordan Watkins
WR Junior Bergen
WR Isaiah Neyor
It’s a numbers game, and the Niners believed the best way to make up for the loss of Deebo Samuel and perhaps upwards of the first half of the season of Aiyuk’s absence was to add four wideouts with big play ability.
Bergen can sneak onto the roster if Jacob Cowing has a bigger role offensively and the Niners don’t want him returning punts. Shanahan said the 49ers view Bergen as a returner.
Watkins was used on jet sweeps, in the backfield, on short crossing routes to maximize his after-the-catch ability, and on plays designed to generate explosive plays. I wonder which role Watkins will fill from last year.
Neyor is a big athlete who flashed enough in college to warrant a practice squad spot. Neyor will be a fan favorite during training camp, especially if he gets an opportunity in the red area.
Robinson is a veteran who played in a similar offense and produced during Cooper Kupp and/or Puka Nucua’s absence. He should be near the top of the team’s additions this offseason.
Luke Farrell’s impact will be felt on special teams and in the running game. Ross Dwelley is insurance against Brayden Willis, Jake Tonges, and Mason Pline not developing into consistent enough players at tight end.
Other than that, Mac Jones, Jordan James, Corey Kinger, Connor Colby, and Drew Moss are all depth additions. D.J. Humphries’s signing was a necessity, especially if he can regain his form from pre-injury. Ideally, none of these players are needed. But we know how infatuated the injury bug is with the 49ers.
Let’s turn our attention to the new players on the defensive side of the ball. The 49ers replaced every starter along the defensive line not named Nick Bosa. Plus, household names like Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, and Charvarius Ward. It’s a big ask if the expectation is for Renardo Green to fill Mooney’s shoes. Deommodore Lenoir’s impact has primarily come at nickel. Just as they did at wide receiver, the 49ers are playing the numbers game at defensive back:
CB Tre Brown
CB Tre Tomlinson
S Richie Grant
S Jason Pinnock
DB Marques Sigle
Nickel Upton Stout
Nickel Siran Neal
If we’re following the money, Jason Pinnock’s guaranteed salary of $1.2 million suggests he’ll get the first crack at replacing Malik Mustapha for however long Mustapha misses. Pinnock only making $1.2 million also suggests the 49ers aren’t expecting much from the list of veteran defensive backs.
The same cannot be said for the rookie defensive linemen. Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, and CJ West have to play. As for linebacker, Nick Martin fits the mold of what the Niners ask for at that position, while Luke Gifford’s history says he’s a special teams ace.
Which 49ers’ offseason addition will be the most impactful?
My answer: Robert Saleh
Whether you want to use “best” or “impactful,” the answer is easy. The 49ers didn’t have a problem solver as a defensive coordinator in each of the past two seasons. Nick Sorensen’s inexperience was apparent all too often in the second halves of games last year.
This is far from the best unit Saleh will have coached in his career, but he has more than enough pieces to get the 49ers defense out of the basement of some categories they’ve been stuck in since DeMeco Ryans’s departure.
Saleh will help the 49ers return to their roots, from style of play, tackling, run defense, and making opponents earn every first down. Expect a trial-and-error process through the first month or so of the season as Saleh figures out who can do what in game settings. Once that happens, Saleh’s adjustments will become noticeable, and we’ll see San Francisco return to complementary football.