The San Francisco 49ers are in an interesting spot for 2019. This is a team with a solid front office, promising coaching staff, and exciting young roster. Injuries to two key offensive pieces in running back Jerick McKinnon and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo meant 2018 would be a struggle. San Francisco has a lot to look forward to though with McKinnon and Garoppolo set to return, plus the emergence of players like George Kittle and Matt Breida.
Let's take a look at the impending free agents and see where San Francisco might go in the coming season.
Special Teams
- Robbie Gould (K) - The 36-year-old placekicker signed on with San Francisco heading into 2017 on a 2-year deal and played well. Converting on 72 of 75 field goals for a 96% success rate puts him first in that span among kickers who attempted at least 30 field goals. The 49ers would be smart to re-sign Gould as he's been the most reliable kicker in the league.
- Bradley Pinion (P) - Pinion is coming off his rookie deal after being drafted in the 5th Round of the 2015 Draft by the 49ers. While there hasn't been anything worrisome about his performance over the last 4 seasons, he's fallen near the bottom of the league in Yards per Punt. Over the 4-year span he's been in the league, Pinion's 43.71 Y/P average is near the bottom. Hanging onto Pinion isn't a problem, and he should come at a price that is favorable to the franchise.
- Kyle Nelson (LS) - Nelson has been snapping snaps that are longer than normal snaps snapped by regular snapper (AKA "center") Weston Richburg since 2012 in the NFL. Kyle has been with San Francisco since 2014. Sadly, Kyle Nelson was popped with a suspension in December of 2018 for violating the NFL's PEDs policy, and so the 49ers called on second-year long snapper Colin Holba to finish the season on special teams snapping duty. Holba is under contract through 2019, so we expect Nelson to be ignored by San Francisco this summer.
Defense
- Jimmie Ward (DB) - Ward has been in San Francisco since his drafting by them as the 30th pick in 2014. Injuries limited Jimmie to 16 games across the last two seasons, and he finished this year on IR with a broken arm. A rotational piece who is unable to stay healthy and easily replaced in the draft or free agency, we'd expect Ward to land elsewhere in 2019.
- Greg Mabin (CB) - An exclusive rights free agent, San Francisco can hang onto Mabin without fear of poaching from another team if they are interested. Mabin logged heavy time on special teams, but his use on defense is reserved for emergencies. If they value him on special teams, he could see another season in the red and gold.
- Antone Exum (S) - After he flamed out in Minnesota, Exum made his way to the Bay in 2017. It did not go well as rarely saw the field in his first season with San Francisco. A different story in 2018, though, Exum finished 3rd for the 49ers in total DB snaps behind Richard Sherman and Ahkello Witherspoon. Injuries to the secondary paved Exums path onto the field, but he made the most of it and played well enough. He could have earned himself a modest backup job on this defense.
- Tyvis Powell (S) - Powell started the season with San Francisco, but played sparingly and eventually wound up cut in November. The Jets added him to their practice squad, but the 49ers came calling when Witherspoon landed on IR for the final games of the season. Powell is a fringe piece and could end up anywhere.
- Mark Nzeocha (LB) - Special Teams ace Mark Nzeocha doesn't see much time on defense (5th in linebacker defensive snaps) but is a useful piece defending returns. He also made it onto the Pro Bowl roster, but it may have been less to do with merit and more to do with a slew of German compatriots boosting his voting numbers out of national pride. Nzeocha was born in Neusitz, Germany and went to high school in the country as well. We think San Francisco will look to retain his services.
- Elijah Lee (LB) - If you haven't heard of Elijah Lee, you're not alone. The former seventh round pick in 2017 only burst onto most people's radars in week 14 when he moved into a starting role for San Francisco. Supplanting Malcolm Smith for the Will Linebacker spot, Lee did not disappoint. He was one of only a handfull of weak side linebackers to log 10 total tackles in the final three games of the season. A great player for Kansas State, Lee looks in line to flourish as a starter for a promising San Francisco defense.
Offense
- Alfred Morris (RB) - Mercenary veteran running back Alf popped in to back up Jerick McKinnon and ended up seeing plenty of work following McKinnon's ACL injury in preseason. Hot and cold all season, Morris was mostly average, finishing with 428 yards on 111 carries for a 3.9 Y/C average. With McKinnon expected to be back in 2019 and Matt "The Revelation" Breida still in the stable, Morris probably will be unnecessary in the stable for Shanahan.
- Raheem Mostert (RB) - A most gruesome arm-break ended Mostert's breakout season short. The definition of journeyman, Mostert has been with Philadelphia, Miami, Baltimore, Cleveland, New York Jets, Chicago and San Francisco since entering the league in 2015. After a four-game stretch that saw him post 250 yards and a touchdown on 28 runs for a Breida-like 8.93 Y/C, the ex-Boilermaker broke his arm bracing for a tackle versus Oakland. It is Mostert's emergence that leads us to believe Alfred Morris will need to find work elsewhere. The 49ers look blessed with a trio of talented running backs.
- Mike Person (RG) - Person is a member of the San Francisco offensive line starting 5. He was perfectly average in 2018. Not the worst guard you ever did see, but you can always go for an upgrade, right? Person came over from Indianapolis and showed he can be relied upon. We'd expect John Lynch to look for an upgrade, but wouldn't be surprised to see Person back with the team in 2019 either.
- John Flynn (LG) - Technically, there is someone named John Flynn who will be a free agent this spring.
Be sure to check out the other 31 teams as well!
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