The 49ers entered 2020 NFL free agency intent on keeping together a rising team that unexpectedly made it all the way to Super Bowl LIV last season after sputtering to a four-win season the year before.
Mission accomplished. Almost. The 49ers pointedly worked to keep around their own throughout the opening stage of free agency in March, when practically every move they made had to do with retaining the same players that took them last season to the pinnacle of NFL success.
Of the 22 veterans that were headed for some form of free agency this year, the 49ers had either signed or tendered offers to a dozen of them — and most that were vital to the team’s 2019 chemistry and prosperity.
Only one big name was missing. Of their three front-line starters eligible for unrestricted free agency — San Francisco’s other 19 starters on offense and defense from last season already were under contract for 2020 — the 49ers were able to re-sign defensive lineman Arik Armstead and free safety Jimmie Ward after their breakout seasons to contracts worth a combined $113.5 million.
But that left not enough in the team’s monetary reserves to bring back wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, whose appearance in San Francisco after a midseason trade revitalized the team in general and the offense in particular, setting up the 33-year-old veteran for one final big payday in free agency. Sanders got that from the New Orleans Saints instead of the 49ers.
This story is from the May 2020 edition of Niner Report.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2020 edition of Niner Report.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
EIGHT IS ENOUGH
Set 49ers lineup still has several new starters
Calling all cornerbacks
Loss of Verrett exposes 49ers’ thin depth at CB
Always finding their way to run
49ers system accomplished at developing homegrown talent
ANOTHER COMEBACK?
Resilient veteran Verrett to miss rest of season
TOP 10 Rookie running backs
THE BACK LIST
STOCK UP STOCK DOWN
DEOMMODORE LENOIR | AMBRY THOMAS
Will Mostert run for 49ers again?
Raheem Mostert was primed this year to be the centerpiece of one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses, featured as the lead performer in San Francisco’s grinding rushing attack while making his climb among the league’s top running backs.
THE WONDER OF WARNER
49ers make All-Pro star highest-paid LB in NFL
Making the right choice at QB
In the weeks that follow after you read this — and perhaps sometime even sooner than that — Kyle Shanahan and the rest of the 49ers organization will make a titanic decision that will have present, future and perhaps even everlasting implications for the franchise. It will chart the course for the team’s pivotal 2021 season while determining whether San Francisco really does have the juice to return to powerhouse status and again be considered a legitimate contender to get back to the Super Bowl.
TOP 10 Linebacker seasons
Fred Warner vaulted to stardom with a spectacular 2020 season — and the 49ers rewarded him this summer with a $95.225 million deal that makes him the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history. By today’s standards, Warner’s performance last year was worth the money as he posted an Approximate Value of 19 — matching the highest score ever recorded by a San Francisco defender according to a Pro Football Reference formula that puts a single number on each player-season across all positions since 1960. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman (twice) also had seasons with an AV of 19 as they dominate this list of the greatest individual seasons by a linebacker in 49ers history.
