The San Francisco 49ers are well-equipped with cap space, holding over $70 million currently, according to OverTheCap, easily the most of any team in the NFL.
That’s a good sign because the 49ers can now be players in the final wave of free agency, with teams no longer being penalized by the compensatory formula for signing free agents. That’s a key reason why several veterans have remained on the board nearly two months into free agency, with some slowly starting to get signed.
Now, the 49ers don’t
need to spend all $70 million. They’ve been quite cognizant of their cap space in recent years, carrying money over to future years to help with their growing cap hits. But there is the opportunity to strengthen this 2026 roster with quite an amount of cap space.
So, who still makes sense for the 49ers in free agency?
G Mekhi Becton
The fit with Becton will be interesting. But Becton was a solid guard for the Philadelphia Eagles two seasons ago before spending last year with the Los Angeles Chargers.
He’s a unique athlete who can slide into the left guard role as a short-term solution for the 49ers on a one-year deal, giving them a more proven option than what they currently have in the role. Now, he’s coming off a rough season where he both struggled with injury and inconsistency, but he’s younger than the other veteran guards on the market, which might be more appealing to the 49ers.
DE Joey Bosa
Second time’s the charm?
The 49ers went after Bosa last offseason, to no avail, as he took a more lucrative offer with the Buffalo Bills. Could they try again this offseason?
Now, San Francisco did add to their defensive line group with Romello Height in the draft, but they could give him some time to develop and add some experience to quite a young group up front.
A good sign? Bosa was healthier than usual in 2025 with the Bills.
G Joel Bitonio
Talking about guards, the top player on the market is Joel Bitonio. While he’s 34, he’s another short-term solution at left guard that could fit with the 49ers.
He’s played in a familiar system in Cleveland, has a ton of experience, and could be a veteran leader to the young, developing guys in the room.
Injuries are something to watch, but the 49ers could take a flyer here.
EDGE Jadaveon Clowney
Going the veteran edge route again, Jadaveon Clowney could be an interesting add after bouncing around the last few years.
Clowney did have 8.5 sacks in 2025, so there is some pass-rush juice there, and he could fit in as a rotational piece on the defensive line for the 49ers alongside Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams.
TE David Njoku
This might be a surprising choice, but Njoku is still available in free agency after the first wave.
The tight end position is becoming more and more valuable, and Njoku would be the second-best pass catcher in the room behind George Kittle. Even if it’s just situational, there’s a role to be had, and the 49ers would have a better tight end room with the veteran in it.
