The San Francisco 49ers are expected to be active once NFL free agency opens in March. Per Over the Cap, they currently have $46.51 million in cap space. That number will grow as players restructure their contracts and others are released.

Obviously, the imminent contract extension quarterback Brock Purdy will sign is making all of the headlines right now. He’s expected to get $60 million or so on a new contract. Said deal will likely be backloaded, leaving a minor imprint on the 49ers’ short-term cap situation.

Coming off an injury-plagued 7-10 season, the onus is on general manager John Lynch to keep San Francisco’s Super Bowl window slightly ajar. Free agency will be a major component of that. It’s in this that I look at what the 49ers might do in free agency.

San Francisco 49ers Options In NFL Free Agency

San Francisco does have several holes to fill heading into the offseason. Despite the injuries, a lack of depth played a role in the 49ers’ down 2024 campaign.

Right tackle, tight end, defensive tackle, edge pass rusher and cornerback have to be seen as areas of need. To a lesser extent, adding veterans at safety and center could also be in the cards. Let’s look at some early options for the 49ers in NFL free agency.

Khalil Mack, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers

Leonard Floyd (8.5 sacks) did a pretty good job opposite Nick Bosa this past season. He’s also set to count $10.1 million against the NFL salary cap in 2025. San Francisco can get out from under his deal with an $8.5 million cap savings with a post June 1 release. It’s all about the finances here.

Mack, 33, is a nine-time Pro Bowler and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He’s recorded double-digit sacks five times in his career and had 17 as recently as 2023. He’d provide that needed consistency opposite Bosa out on the edge.

Ronnie Stanley, Offensive Tackle, Baltimore Ravens

It’s pretty obvious that Colton McKivitz is not the answer opposite Trent Williams at right tackle in San Francisco. It also must be noted that while Williams has committed to play next season, he’s 36 years old.

Stanley, 30, has had his fair share of injury issues since the Baltimore Ravens made him the sixth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. When on the field, he’s been among the best left tackles in the NFL. The idea here would be for Stanley to initially play right tackle until Williams retires. At issue is the fact that he would want left tackle money. Whether the 49ers are willing to pony up that cash remains to be seen.

Haason Reddick, EDGE, New York Jets

The 49ers had interest in Reddick before he was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to te Jets last offseason. Reddick then held out for a majority of the regular season in hopes of landing a new contract. It’s highly unlikely that the former first-round pick returns to the Jets in 2025.

Reddick, 30, has been among the most consistently good pass rushers in the game over the past few seasons. From 2020-23 with the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles, he recorded a combined 50.5 sacks to go with 83 quarterback hits and 13 forced fumbles.

Rasul Douglas, Cornerback, Buffalo Bills

The 49ers will need to address the cornerback position during NFL free agency. Star corner Charvarius Ward is likely gone, as he’s set to hit the open market. That’s primarily because of an off-field tragedy impacting his willingness to play in Northern California.

San Francisco did hand star young cornerback Deommodore Lenoir a lucrative long-term contract during the season. It also has an impressive youngster in that of 2024 second-round pick Renardo Green. Outside of that, there is nothing to write home about here.

The 29-year-old Douglas has been among the most underrated cornerbacks in the league since he went pro back in 2017. While he struggled this past season, Douglas yielded a mere 73.1 QB rating when targeted back in 2023. He’d slot in perfectly opposite Lenoir with Green playing nickel.

Cam Robinson, Offensive Tackle, Minnesota Vikings

As noted above, offensive tackle is a major need for San Francisco. I expect the team to address this position with the 11th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. But it should double down in free agency.

Robinson has in the past played at an extremely high level at right tackle. It’s a position he’s much better suited for than acting the part of a blindside protecter. He’d also be a long-term solution on the right side. At issue here is the question whether Robinson would take a role as a right tackle after playing on the left side over the past few seasons with both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings. The San Francisco 49ers will find that out soon enough when NFL free agency opens in March.