The NFL’s offseason doesn’t pick up until the start of the NFL Scouting Combine, which takes place this week. We should begin to hear more rumors about the San Francisco 49ers’ free agency or draft plans with the Combine underway.
Some of those rumors we hear might be a little scary. What we’ll do today is talk about a few potential scary outcomes for the 49ers this offseason.
1. The 49ers draft an undersized, speedy wide receiver just for the sake of drafting speed
The depth at wide receiver in this draft might make teams pass on drafting a wideout early. We all know the Niners need to
add speed. They could not separate consistently in the playoffs. The inevitable loss of Brandon Aiyuk will make the need for a wide receiver even more pressing.
Let’s use Texas A&M’s KC Concepion as an example. The Aggies website lists him at 5’11”, 190 pounds. What if he comes in at 5’9″, 182 pounds? How many wide receivers at that size flourish in today’s NFL, where you’re asked to block from a condensed split and need to live over the middle of the field? There aren’t many.
Concepion is going to fly, as most undersized receivers do. But the Niners need somebody who can win on the perimeter as an isolated receiver. Concepcion has a sweet release package at the line of scrimmage, but when consistently faced with physicality and tight quarters, the 185-pounder’s true colors show, especially when it’s time to catch the ball.
Concepcion is just an example. You could say the same for Omar Cooper out of Indiana, Zachariah Branch from Georgia, and Antonio Williams from Clemson. I’d say the same for USC’s Makai Lemon, who the draft community adores. These slot, gadgety wide receivers who made a living in space at the collegiate level don’t always translate to the next level. They should come with a buyer-beware tag.
The 49ers can’t fall in love with 40 times during the NFL Combine and Pro Day circuit.
2. The 49ers are content with their running back and tight end room
George Kittle is coming off an Achilles tear. Christian McCaffrey just had 3,218 touches, give or take. It’s time to get both players help. That help isn’t Jake Tonges, or else he would have been used more when Kittle was hurt earlier in the year. Maybe it’s Jordan James at running back, but one would think he would have had a bigger role at some point during the year.
The 49ers could pull the plug on the Isaac Guerendos and Luke Farrells on the roster. You run the risk of swinging and missing on a player you felt could be a potential upgrade, but that’s not how you approach the offseason as a decision-maker.
History suggests McCaffrey will miss games in 2026, and Kittle will take some time rounding back into form. You could address tight end and running back later in the draft for depth, but they’re unlikely to be contributors, as we’ve seen from previous 49ers drafts.
It’s why Isaiah Likely makes sense in free agency. And why Kenneth Gainwell would add some much-needed juice. Both of those players could complement what’s already on the roster, even in the event of injury. Standing pat at both positions is a scary proposition.
3. The 49ers put too much stock in their young players developing
This past season was supposed to be a year of growth for Mykel Williams. A knee injury around midseason robbed Mykel’s development of a stretch of games where he could have gained plenty of confidence.
One thing the 49ers can’t do this offseason is stand idle and hope their players from the previous two draft classes develop. Ricky Pearsall and Renardo Green will already be 26 next year. Alfred Collins is 25. Expecting a massive jump from these players doesn’t feel realistic.
That’s not to say they can’t be solid to good contributors. Pearsall has shown what he can do in Shanahan’s offense. Robert Saleh’s defense was designed to target Green, which is a compliment. Still, none of these players should prevent the Niners from upgrading or adding to these positions.
Dominick Puni, who will also be 26, feels like the best-case scenario for all of these players to turn out: a rock-solid starter as it gets, above average.
Expecting Collins to morph into a pass-rushing threat when those examples are few and far between from his rookie season would be a mistake. Collins and CJ West are run stuffers and stout at their core. The 49ers still need an interior pass rusher after drafting two defensive tackles a year ago.
If the 49ers put too much stock in their young players developing, they could find themselves in a similar position a year from now, needing a wide receiver, defensive tackle, and cornerback.
