As we inch closer to the start of the new league year, it's time to zero in on the potential changes coming to the San Francisco 49ers roster. A number of players' contracts will expire on March 12 at 1:00 p.m. PST and, at that time, those players will become either exclusive rights, restricted or unrestricted free agents.
According to NFL Football Operations and NFL.com from the 2023 and 2024 seasons, below is a summary of the three free agency designations:
- Exclusive rights free agent: Any player with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum (based on his credited seasons), the player cannot negotiate with other teams.
- Restricted free agent: A player with three accrued seasons who have received a qualifying offer become restricted free agents when their contracts expire at the conclusion of the new league year. Restricted free agents are free to negotiate and sign with any team, but their original team can offer them one of various qualifying offers (or tenders) that come with the right of first refusal and/or draft-pick compensation.
- Unrestricted free agent: A player with four or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired. He is free to sign with any club, with no draft-choice compensation owed to his old club.
- Additionally, each NFL organization can designate a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent with an (exclusive or non-exclusive) franchise tag or a transition tag. This is a collective bargaining tool that can be used by a team once per offseason. A more comprehensive look at franchise/transition tag implications can be found here.
Roster turnover is one of the few constants in the NFL, and teams across the league work tirelessly each offseason to retain and bring in the new talent necessary to fortify their teams for the upcoming year.
Below are the 49ers players currently on the roster that are set to become free agents:
Exclusive rights free agents:
- DL Evan Anderson
- DL Alex Barrett
- LB Jalen Graham
- DL Sam Okuayinonu
- OL Austen Pleasants
- TE Jake Tonges
- TE Brayden Willis
Restricted free agents:
- RB Jordan Mason
- LB Curtis Robinson
Unrestricted free agents:
- QB Brandon Allen
- OL Aaron Banks
- OL Ben Bartch
- LB De'Vondre Campbell Sr.
- WR Chris Conley
- QB Joshua Dobbs
- DL Khalil Davis
- OL Jon Feliciano
- LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
- S Tashaun Gipson Sr.
- DL Kevin Givens
- LB Dre Greenlaw
- DL Javon Hargrave
- OL Charlie Heck
- S Talanoa Hufanga
- CB Nick McCloud
- RB Elijah Mitchell
- OL Jaylon Moore
- P Pat O'Donnell
- TE Eric Saubert
- RB Patrick Taylor Jr.
- CB Charvarius Ward
- CB Rock Ya-Sin
- CB Isaac Yiadom
