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49ers show resilience as offseason work shifts to the NFL scouting combine
The San Francisco 49ers completed a 12-win regular season despite losing multiple cornerstone players to significant injuries. Key contributors were sidelined, including a star defensive end, an elite linebacker, a premier tight end and a top wideout.
Their record underscores roster depth and coaching continuity. A healthier roster, executives say, could accelerate the team’s return to Super Bowl contention.
Now the front office’s offseason work begins at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Coaches and executives will evaluate prospects, open face-to-face free-agent discussions and refine trade priorities.
Anyone who has built a contender knows that on-field testing is only the start. The combine serves as the first chapter of roster construction, where medical reviews and interviews often shape decisions as much as 40-yard dash times.
The combine continues the roster construction process. Team executives and medical staff will balance short-term fixes against long-term planning. Interviews, measurements and medicals in Indianapolis will inform choices on both free agency and the draft.
Wide receiver: replacing lost targets and adding availability
The 49ers must replace targets lost to injury and departures while improving weekly availability. Depth matters for schemes that rely on multiple passing options. The scouting staff will prioritize players with reliable snap histories and special-teams value.
Anyone who has launched a product knows that durability trumps upside when the calendar is tight. Translation for football: a receiver with fewer missed games can be more valuable than one with a higher ceiling but chronic injuries. Scouts will weigh route polish, yards after catch and hands against medical red flags.
Edge rush: addressing a low sack total
Edge rush is a clear priority after a season with fewer sacks than expected. The front office will consider established veterans in free agency to supplement pass rush immediately. At the same time, the draft offers athletic, cost-controlled options for rotational depth.
Growth data tells a different story: younger edge players can deliver sustained production at lower cost if coached correctly. Evaluation will focus on short-area burst, hand usage and play-to-play motor rather than just 40-yard dash times.
Cornerback: shoring up the perimeter
The cornerback group needs reinforcement to maintain coverage flexibility across multiple defensive looks. Teams will probe corners who show consistent tape against top receivers and sound press technique. Versatility to play slot and outside will increase a prospect’s value.
Coaches will prioritize film traits that translate to pro schematics: recovery speed, footwork and play recognition. Scheme fit may decide whether the team signs a veteran or invests a draft pick in a press-man or zone-oriented corner.
Medical updates and the George Kittle situation
Medical reports will shape contingency planning, particularly for George Kittle after his torn Achilles. The team’s timing for activating or protecting players depends on surgeon reports and functional testing results from the combine. These updates will affect roster and play-calling scenarios for 2026.
I’ve seen too many startups fail to ignore early warning signs; the same applies to roster risk. Conservative projections for returning players will inform decisions on signing veterans versus drafting replacements.
What to watch in Indianapolis
Expect teams to prioritize medical clarity, veteran interviews and prospects who provide immediate special-teams contributions. The combine will not decide every roster spot, but it will narrow options and set the parameters for free-agency moves and draft targets.
The 49ers must replace targets lost to injury and departures while improving weekly availability. Depth matters for schemes that rely on multiple passing options. The scouting staff will prioritize players with reliable snap histories and special-teams value.0
The San Francisco 49ers are reshaping a once-stable receiving corps after several departures and internal disputes. The franchise faces the dual challenge of replacing a reported star exit and resolving a veteran’s contentious contract situation.
Who: the 49ers’ front office and scouting staff.
What: an immediate push to secure dependable playmakers through free agency in Indianapolis, followed by a comprehensive draft reassessment. Anyone who has watched roster rebuilds knows that availability matters as much as talent. The team will test interest in proven veterans while surveying a deep collegiate pool, from potential Day 1 prospects to reliable Day 2 contributors.
Where: talent acquisition work will begin at the combine in Indianapolis and continue through the draft process.
Why: young options such as Ricky Pearsall have shown playmaking flashes but struggled with availability. The scouting staff will prioritize players with reliable snap histories and special-teams value to restore both talent and durability at the position.
I’ve seen too many roster gambles fail to produce consistent results, and growth data tells a different story: availability drives sustained production. The 49ers’ sequence—chase experienced free agents, then recalibrate draft targets—reflects that lesson and aims to balance immediate need with long-term roster health.
Edge rush: urgent upgrades to create more pressure
The San Francisco 49ers entered the offseason facing a clear weakness: a pass rush that produced the fewest sacks in the league. The club expects its returning foundational pass rusher to be healthier, but front-seven depth remains limited. Team executives will pursue veteran additions in free agency who can pair with existing stars to deliver immediate pressure. They will also evaluate rookies with first-round upside to build sustainable depth.
Scouts will use the combine to inspect traits such as burst, bend and power up close. Names circulating in free-agency and trade discussions are described as experienced edge defenders who could serve as a short-term bridge. The draft, meanwhile, offers several college standouts who could contribute quickly and develop into long-term rotational pieces.
Veteran options and strategic fits
Teams targeting instant impact will favor edge defenders with proven NFL production and versatile alignments. Priority traits include consistent pressure generation, the ability to set the edge against the run and the capacity to play both wide and inside on passing downs. Those profiles shorten the learning curve for coaches and fit game plans that emphasize situational pass rushes.
Front-office strategy will likely balance cap cost against expected snap share. Veteran contracts that function as low-risk, one-year extensions can buy time for rookies to acclimate. Anyone who has launched a product knows that short windows require pragmatic choices; I’ve seen too many startups fail to preserve runway, and NFL teams can make similar mistakes by sacrificing roster flexibility for immediate fixes.
Growth data tells a different story: younger players with explosive testing numbers and bend metrics often translate into higher upside over two to three seasons. The combine helps validate those signals. Coaches will compare film to measurable traits to separate quick contributors from long-term projects.
Case studies from recent seasons show teams that paired a veteran stopgap with a promising rookie achieved more consistent pressure than those that relied solely on free-agent signings. Those examples inform the 49ers’ likely approach: pursue dependable veteran talent while using early draft capital to secure athletic, high-ceiling pass rushers.
For now, the expectation inside the building is clear. The team will add at least one experienced edge presence this offseason and select a rookie with immediate rotational value in the draft. The next key development will be which veteran the front office targets and how combine testing reshapes the board.
The front office is expected to pursue a veteran edge to pair with the returning starter. That would be a tactical, near-term upgrade rather than a full rebuild. The club still needs to add youth through the draft or trades. The combine offers a controlled setting to interview and test prospects. Coaches will match measurable athletic traits with on-field tape and medical histories before making targeted offers. The next key development will be which veteran the front office targets and how combine testing reshapes the board.
Cornerback and secondary: depth, competition and coaching
Depth in the secondary remains a priority for the coaching staff. Short-term signings can buy time while younger players compete for roles. Scouting will focus on players who fit the scheme and clear medical checks. Competition in training camp is likely to determine immediate starters and nickel packages.
Any addition must address both coverage and tackling reliability. Teams increasingly value versatile backs who can match modern slot responsibilities. Coaches will use the combine and pro days to validate film assessments against quantifiable drills.
I’ve seen too many startups fail to chase quick fixes; roster building demands the same discipline. Growth data tells a different story: sustainable depth comes from mixing veteran experience with high-upside youth. Anyone who has launched a product knows that short-term gains rarely substitute for durable fit.
Coaching emphasis will center on technique, communication and injury management. Special teams snaps and slot reps will be critical pathways for younger cornerbacks to earn regular roles. The club’s decisions in free agency and the draft will reveal whether it prioritizes immediate competition or longer-term development.
Balancing free agency and the draft
The 49ers face a clear choice between immediate upgrades and longer-term development. A stronger pass rush could mask coverage issues and make returning starters look sharper. The front office, however, wants more than hope.
Free agency offers proven options who can compete for starting roles or supply dependable depth. The draft produces distinct cornerback profiles: press specialists, aggressive ball-winners and smooth zone technicians. Teams often mix veteran signings with targeted rookie picks to address both short- and long-term needs.
I’ve seen too many teams misallocate resources to one approach and suffer for it. Growth data tells a different story: balanced spending on reliable veterans and high-upside rookies reduces risk and preserves flexibility. Anyone who has built a roster knows that depth wins through a long season.
Indianapolis will be a focal point for evaluation. Meetings and on-field testing there will help the 49ers vet traits that fit their scheme. Scouts will prioritize players who shorten receivers’ windows and thrive in contested catch scenarios.
Front-office planners will weigh pass-rush improvements against coverage upgrades when deciding priorities. Expect the club to pursue a mix of free-agency certainty and draft upside as it seeks sustainable defensive performance.
How the 49ers will proceed
Expect the club to pursue a mix of free-agency certainty and draft upside as it seeks sustainable defensive performance. The roster plan will be pragmatic: target selective veterans who fill urgent gaps while using early draft capital to secure long-term building blocks. I’ve seen too many teams chase short-term fixes and sacrifice future depth; this approach aims to avoid that mistake.
Scouting interviews and position drills at the combine will help the 49ers assess fit with their defensive identity and locker-room culture. They will prioritise players whose medical evaluations and psychological profiles suit a high-expectation environment. Finally, the team’s immediate outlook depends on the recovery of veteran tight end George Kittle. Despite an injury-shortened season, Kittle remained one of the most productive tight ends when available. His rehabilitation timeline will shape short-term game plans and the urgency of adding complementary pass-catchers this offseason, and the combine offers an early checkpoint to align medical reports, coaching plans and roster moves.