All signs are pointing to the San Francisco 49ers parting ways with more key contributors this offseason for cost-cutting reasons in the wake of Deebo Samuel’s trade to the Washington Commanders.
There’s extra urgency for the 49ers to clear cap space soon with contract extension talks for quarterback Brock Purdy underway.
On the latest episode of his podcast, ESPN insider Adam Schefter unveiled two defensive standouts who he believes will not be returning to the Bay Area for the 2025 season.
“The 49ers are going to have to make a number of (cuts) this year,” Schefter said. “They’re going to lose talent in free agency. Talanoa Hufanga is going to be gone. Dre Greenlaw, I think, is going to be gone. They’re going to lose a lot of talent in free agency. They’re going to have to make cuts here to get under the salary cap in the coming week.”
Hufanga was a first-team All Pro selection at safety during his breakout 2022 campaign before dealing with injuries the past two seasons. Sports Illustrated projects Hufanga to receive a two-year, $25 million contract this year despite his recent struggles to stay healthy.
Greenlaw got a vote of confidence last week from general manager John Lynch, but it’s no guarantee he’ll remain a 49er in 2025. The 27-year-old linebacker helped the 49ers reach the Super Bowl as a rookie in 2019 and again in 2023, when he suffered a torn Achilles that kept him out for most of last season as well.
49ers fans can only hope that letting Greenlaw and Hufanga walk might mean the team can afford to keep Pro Bowl cornerback Charvarius Ward. The 28-year-old Ward is due for a deal in the three-year, $45 million range, according to Sports Illustrated.
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