The NFL’s official cut-down date is Tuesday, August 26, at 1 p.m. PT. Some teams began the madness as early as Friday. Some teams, like the Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills, have released upwards of a dozen players. Other teams, like the San Francisco 49ers, are still going through the process of which players to retain.
The 49ers personnel department will have a close eye on every player released. We don’t see many notable names during the early phases of cuts. The more recognizable name is likely
Donovan Peoples-Jones, a wide receiver who has bounced around but has the physical tools. The Philadelphia Eagles released former first-round pick Lewis Cine, who is a defensive back. Those two players could intrigue San Francisco.
We also see trades ahead of a player being released. That’s what trading for Skyy Moore felt like. It was a way for the 49ers to guarantee they’d get their hands on Moore without competing with another team.
Late Sunday afternoon, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the Patriots are shopping Kyle Dugger, a safety who has started in New England for the previous five seasons. If a team really valued Dugger, they’d give up a draft pick for him.
However, Dugger just signed a four-year, $58-million extension in April 2024. That was also with a different coaching staff. Dugger is undoubtedly talented and could help the Niners, but the price tag of paying Dugger $9.75 million in 2025 when it could be for half that if he’s released will likely prevent Dugger from being traded.
There’s a strong possibility that the Niners keep a roster spot or two open in the event a player from another team gets cut who they feel could help them. We’ll continue to update this post as more and more names are released.
Which positions do you believe the 49ers will keep their eyes on?
