The 2025 NFL off-season has been quite eventful with many teams making big moves. For example, the Seattle Seahawks have replaced the majority of their key offensive elements including their quarterback, and 2 veteran wide receivers. Other teams aren’t just signing new players, but signing huge contracts like the Cincinnati Bengals who just re-signed Ja’marr Chase, Tee Higgings, and Joe Burrow for a combined $125 million dollars per year. Keep in mind, those 3 players alone are worth more than the entirety of the Bengals offense. Though these off-season moves have been pretty crazy, some of the most insane moves have been made by the San Francisco 49er’s, and you might not even believe some of them.
Firstly, the 49ers let go of several memorable players, most notably Deebo Samuel Jr., Dre Greenlaw, and others. You may know Deebo Samuel as one of the essential players included in the 2023 49ers offense, which went to the Super Bowl. Now he’s been traded to the Washington Commanders and the team has replaced him with Ricky Pearsall; hopefully a better fit for their scheme and young quarterback. Regarding quarterbacks, the 49ers replaced backup quarterback Josh Dobbs with former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones. Lastly, a confusing transaction occurred with the team releasing their long time fullback Kyle Jusczcyk, then re-signing him just days later.
The defensive side of the ball is where the true craziness is. Not just one or two, but THREE key defensive players have signed with the Denver Broncos. These 3 include superstar linebackers Dre Greenlaw, and Fred Warner, both individuals with a Super Bowl appearance alongside Deebo Samuel, along with safety Talanoa Hufanga. All of these stars played huge roles on the 49er’s defense, which was regarded by many as a top 5 defense in the NFL during the 2024 defense. Without them, another great defensive performance does not seem to be in the works once again. The duo of Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw was seen by most as the best linebacker lineup in the NFL, and the elite linebacker era of the 49ers has come to a close.
Overall, the team is definitely most affected by the departure of both superstar linebackers, as Deebo Samuel did have a much worse season than the year before. Though this was the case, he still had a huge fan base in San Francisco, and fans hope to see him return to his true home in future years. What are your thoughts on these off-season moves?
