NFL free agency is not entirely finished, but the bulk of the big moves have been made. The San Francisco 49ers added five notable new players this offseason, including CB Richard Sherman, C Weston Richburg, RB Jerick McKinnon, DE Jerry Attaochu, and OG Jonathan Cooper. The team will likely add at least a couple more veterans, but for the most part, free agency is a wrap.
With the bulk of free agency behind us, Pro Football Focus took an early look at the top ten potential free agents in 2019. This group includes players who could be franchised or transition tagged, but these are some of the best players potentially available next year.
The 49ers have a host of potential free agents to deal with in 2019. The team has 16 unrestricted free agents, three restricted free agents, and eight exclusive rights free agents. Of the unrestricted free agents, the team has until this May to decide whether or not to exercise Arik Armstead’s fifth year option. That would take him off the market in 2019, unless the team later decides to release him before the option year salary becomes fully guaranteed.
Some notable potential starters that could hit free agency next year include right tackle Trent Brown, guards Laken Tomlinson and Jonathan Cooper, outside linebacker Eli Harold, and safety Jaquiski Tartt.
It’s also worth noting that the 49ers’ entire corps of specialists, kicker Robbie Gould, punter Bradley Pinion, and long snapper Kyle Nelson, are all unrestricted free agents next spring. The 49ers have plenty of cap room to do some extensions, and I have to think at least one of that trio gets extended before too long.
Here’s a full list of the 49ers potential 2019 free agents.
RB: Raheem Mostert (RFA), Jeremy McNichols (ERFA)
WR: Aldrick Robinson, Max McCaffrey (ERFA)
TE: Cole Hikutini (ERFA), Malcolm Johnson (ERFA)
OT: Trent Brown, Darrell Williams (ERFA)
OG: Laken Tomlinson, Jonathan Cooper, Zane Beadles
DE: Arik Armstead, Jerry Attaochu
LB: Eli Harold, Mark Nzeocha, Elijah Lee (ERFA)
CB: Greg Mabin (ERFA), Trovon Reed (ERFA)
S: Jaquiski Tartt, Jimmie Ward, Don Jones, Dexter McCoil (RFA), Tyvis Powell (RFA)
K: Robbie Gould
P: Bradley Pinion, Jeff Locke
LS: Kyle Nelson