The San Francisco 49ers haven’t had the most ideal 2024 season, starting off the year 5-7 with their playoff hopes diminishing by the week.

With a high likelihood that San Francisco misses the postseason outright according to oddsmakers, let’s get an early look into a crucial 2025 offseason where the 49ers will have to make a number of tough decisions around a few star players.

The 49ers entered this season with a number of high-end players at their respective positions, extending wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams before the season started, but they came in with apparent depth concerns while players continued to age.

That led to a top-heavy team that was decimated by injuries this season, leading to their current 5-7 record.

Going into the offseason, the 49ers are going to have to make a number of tough decisions on which players should return in 2025 and which contracts will not come back as they retool and attempt to remain a perennial contender for years to come.

So, let’s evaluate a number of key pieces and see which stars should stay in 2025.

Free Agents

The 49ers have a number of impending free agents who have either been key starters this year or in the past. Let’s break down the top cases.

Charvarius Ward: Ward was a major signing back in 2022 as the 49ers brought him in on a healthy three-year, $40.5 million contract that kept him in San Francisco through his age-29 season.

Well, the future seems clearer for Ward now, as the top cornerback is scheduled to hit free agency and look for a new team in 2025, especially after the 49ers extended rising star Deommodore Lenoir to a five-year, $92 million deal.

It doesn’t make sense for San Francisco to pay top-of-the-line money to two cornerbacks, especially after drafting Renardo Green in the second round to be Ward’s replacement next year.

Dre Greenlaw: Greenlaw is expected to make his season debut next week when the 49ers play the Los Angeles Rams on a short week. How he finishes the season will likely dictate his market in the offseason, but San Francisco should be interested in bringing him back.

Given that he’s coming off a torn Achilles, Greenlaw may be more inclined to take a one-year, prove-it deal and there’s no better location for that than the 49ers.

San Francisco needs a starter alongside Fred Warner and they haven’t trusted any of their options this year. If the price is like, bringing back Greenlaw on a one-year deal makes sense.

Aaron Banks: Offensive line play comes at a premium in the NFL because there aren’t many high-end starters across the 30 teams. With that said, the 49ers should let Aaron Banks walk in free agency.

He quite frankly hasn’t been nearly consistent enough over the last two years and the 49ers need an upgrade. Add in the fact that he’s a free agent, which means an overpay will probably come from some team needing offensive line help, and it makes sense to move on and potentially give Ben Bartch, Spencer Burford, or another player an opportunity next year.

Talanoa Hufanga: Hufanga’s 2024 season has been derailed by injuries after he suffered a torn ACL midway through last year.

While a one-year deal could make sense, the 49ers could look elsewhere next year and try and find a different piece at safety that better fits their defensive style. Malik Mustapha seems like the Hufanga replacement, and San Francisco could go the younger, cheaper route again at safety.

The bigger question at the position is: do the 49ers try and find an upgrade over Ji’Ayir Brown?

Stars under contract

George Kittle: The tight end position is one that takes a lot of physicality, which is why you can see regression from players as they get on the wrong side of 30.

With that said, if there’s a star the 49ers should keep, it’s George Kittle. He’s easily led the team in receiving this year with 50 catches for 649 yards and eight touchdowns as their most consistent contributor on offense.

He’s been one of the best tight ends in the NFL since his sophomore season and has been durable enough over the last four years. While he may need less of a responsibility as a blocker, he’s effective enough and should remain a building block for the team.

Deebo Samuel: The 49ers restructured Samuel in a surprising move last offseason, shooting his cap hit to $28.3 million for the 2025 year with a crazy dead cap hit of $31.5 million.

However, his play has dropped and San Francisco drafted Ricky Pearsall in the first round to be his replacement. A post-June 1st cut makes sense here, with the 49ers carrying his cap hit past the new year, but spreading the dead cap hits over two years to alleviate the cost.

Javon Hargrave: One of the most realistic cut candidates, the 49ers could move on from Javon Hargrave after two seasons, with one being cut short due to a season-ending injury in 2024.

Similarly to Samuel, the 49ers restructured Hargrave’s contract this offseason, but a post-June 1st cut would make sense here as well, spreading the dead cap hits over two years. He currently has a cap hit of $28.1 million for next year.

Kyle Juszczyk: This move could’ve been done this past offseason, but the 49ers found a way to keep Juszczyk after a paycut/restructure. With a cap hit of $6.5 million next season, it makes sense for San Francisco to save money, retool, and move on from their longtime fullback in the offseason.

This offseason could be one of major change for the 49ers as they navigate some murky waters, while deciding on key contract situations such as Brock Purdy’s impending extension.

As a result, there could be a lot of familiar faces playing elsewhere in 2025, potentially ending an era for the 49ers.