49ers urged to keep Eddy Piñeiro as stability returns to special teams
The offseason has arrived for the San Francisco 49ers, and with it comes a familiar wave of roster questions and strategic recalibration.
The pass rush unit requires serious reconstruction, as relying solely on Nick Bosa is not a sustainable formula for defensive dominance.
The wide receiver room also faces uncertainty, with Brock Purdy in need of additional reliable targets beyond Ricky Pearsall heading into 2026.
With Brandon Aiyuk potentially departing and Jauan Jennings entering free agency, the offensive depth chart is poised for significant change.
Yet amid these pressing concerns, a quieter but critically important discussion has emerged around special teams.
And at the center of that conversation stands kicker Eddy Piñeiro.
A revelation in a position long plagued by inconsistency
CBS Sports analyst Zachary Pereles recently urged the 49ers to prioritize re-signing Piñeiro, describing his arrival as a revelation for a franchise that has struggled to find consistency at kicker under Kyle Shanahan.
At first glance, advocating for a kicker might seem anticlimactic compared to splashy moves at edge rusher or wide receiver.
However, the recent history of San Francisco suggests that instability at the position has cost the team tangible opportunities.
In high-leverage situations, the margin between winning and losing often narrows to a single possession.
A dependable kicker transforms those moments from anxiety-filled gambles into manageable calculations.
That transformation is precisely what Piñeiro delivered after arriving midseason.
The numbers that changed the narrative
After the 49ers moved on from Jake Moody, they turned to the journeyman Piñeiro in what initially appeared to be a stopgap solution.
Instead, the decision stabilized an entire phase of the team.
Piñeiro converted 28 of his 29 field goal attempts with San Francisco.
His 96.6 percent accuracy rate ranked as the best in the NFL during that stretch.
Those numbers are not merely cosmetic statistics designed to impress on paper.
They represent preserved leads, secured victories, and avoided collapses.
He did miss four extra points, a blemish that cannot be ignored.
Yet deeper analysis reveals that several of those misses were influenced by snap timing and protection breakdowns rather than pure execution failure.
When isolating standard field goal attempts in competitive scenarios, Piñeiro’s efficiency bordered on elite.
Experience forged across multiple franchises
Before establishing himself in San Francisco, Piñeiro’s career spanned multiple organizations, including the Carolina Panthers, the Chicago Bears, and the New York Jets.
He was widely perceived as a capable but replaceable specialist.
Journeyman status often carries the implication of impermanence.
However, that varied experience may have contributed to his composure upon joining the 49ers.
Exposure to different coaching staffs, stadium environments, and pressure situations can refine a kicker’s mental resilience.
In San Francisco, that resilience translated into consistency.
For the first time in years, the 49ers appeared to have long-term stability at a position that had quietly undermined them.
Strategic ripple effects beyond the box score
A trustworthy kicker alters play-calling dynamics.
When a head coach has confidence in converting from moderate distance, fourth-down decisions become more flexible.
Clock management late in halves becomes less frantic.
Red-zone efficiency improves because settling for three points no longer feels like surrender.
Under Shanahan, offensive creativity has never been in doubt.
What has occasionally faltered is the assurance that drives ending in field goal range will reliably produce points.
Piñeiro’s performance alleviated that uncertainty.
The psychological impact on teammates should not be underestimated.
Defensive players can take calculated risks knowing that even conservative offensive possessions may still yield points.
Momentum, often intangible, becomes easier to sustain.
The risk of letting stability walk away
Free agency rarely guarantees a seamless replacement at kicker.
Drafting a specialist carries inherent volatility, as collegiate accuracy does not always translate to professional reliability.
Statistical studies across recent NFL seasons demonstrate fluctuating performance curves among newly drafted kickers.
Consistency often emerges only after years of repetition under pressure.
Allowing Piñeiro to depart would force the 49ers back into an experimental phase.
In a conference where playoff races are routinely decided by a single game, experimentation carries measurable risk.
Financially, retaining a proven kicker is unlikely to constrain cap flexibility compared to major defensive or offensive acquisitions.
Strategically, it may be the most prudent low-profile move available.
A defining offseason decision
The 49ers unquestionably require reinforcements at edge rusher and wide receiver.
They must evaluate long-term offensive weaponry around Purdy.
They must determine how to construct a pass rush that does not overly depend on Bosa.
However, roster building is not solely about high-visibility talent.
It is also about minimizing volatility in foundational roles.
Piñeiro has already demonstrated compatibility with the team’s operational rhythm.
He has already converted critical opportunities under pressure.
He has already restored confidence to a segment of the roster that once felt precarious.
Retaining him may not generate headlines comparable to a blockbuster trade.
Yet it could quietly prevent the type of late-season disappointment that has haunted contenders in recent years.
In the unforgiving calculus of the NFL, sometimes the smallest margin determines whether a season ends in triumph or regret.
For San Francisco, ensuring that margin remains stable may begin with keeping Eddy Piñeiro exactly where he is.
