Every year is a big year under the current regime. The San Francisco 49ers are often projected to be among the best teams in the NFL, and 2026 is no different. The team is a top-heavy roster that hopes some of its younger players develop to help balance it out.
There are a few critical positions the 49ers will need to monitor throughout the season. The 2023 NFL Draft class did not pan out the way the Niners would have hoped. There’s currently one projected starter on the roster from that class, and there’s no guarantee that he ends the season there.
The other contracts are void at the end of the season, meaning a decision will need to be made on whether the veterans have anything left in the tank. Let’s look at a few positions where we could see new faces this time next year.
Center
Unequivocally, Jake Brendel and the center position take the cake. Center takes care of protections, and the line calls in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
Brendel, who turns 34 in September, has been as consistent as it gets since he took over as the starting center in 2022. During those four years, Brendel only missed two games. He’s eliminated the penalty problem and cut down on the mistakes, making him one of the most reliable players on the roster.
Brendel is a free agent after this season. The 49ers drafted Carver Willis in the fourth round. We’ll find out in OTAs this week whether Willis is taking snaps at center. Brett Toth is another option, though it’s more of an emergency plan if Brendel goes down with an injury rather than a long-term one. Toth signed a one-year deal this offseason.
The 49ers could look to the draft or spend big in free agency. Those options include All-Pro Aaron Brewer, who is four years younger than Brendel and has been playing in Mike McDaniel’s scheme with the Dolphins. File that under the dream scenario next offseason.
Outside of Trent Williams, this regime took some big swings at center early on, so it’s not far-fetched to imagine them wanting a talent like Brewer.
Safety
Safety Ji’Ayir Brown was slated to start the season at safety last year. However, rookie Marques Sigle beat him out in training camp. Sigle looked like a rookie, and that led to him losing his spot and becoming an afterthought.
Brown has become a punching bag for many fans and some former players for how he’s performed. Brown is closer to average than he is bad, and I’d even lean on the above side of average than below. Still, there are obvious faults, and when you lose your job to a Day 3 rookie, it’s never a good sign.
The 2023 third-rounder’s contract is up after this season. After Brown, there’s Sigle and a couple of undrafted free agents. Ideally, the 49ers’ pass rush ends up being dominant enough that you can get away with playing a free safety without spending premium draft capital or big in free agency.
It’ll be fascinating to see how Raheem Morris deploys the safeties and if Brown or Sigle, or one of the rookie free agents, steals the show.
They might be keeping the seat warm for Jessie Bates, who is entering the final year of his contract with Atlanta. A pre- or mid-season trade is something to keep an eye on. If the Falcons start slow, or one of their rookies wins the starting job, Bates could be expendable to them. The other big-name free agent at the position next year is Derwin James, who you’d imagine every team will be after. Brian Branch will also be a free agent next offseason.
Linebacker
The 49ers traded away Dee Winters on draft night. Winters was set to be a free agent after the 2026 season. But so is Dre Greenlaw and Garret Wallow. Luke Gifford’s contract runs through 2027, but he’s on the wrong side of 30 and showed last year that he does not belong on the field defensively.
The good news is that the 49ers have shown they can draft well at the position. The bad news is that they have no idea what they have in Nick Martin, who saw limited action last season as a rookie.
You would think it would be easy to plug-and-play somebody, anybody, next to Fred Warner. It has not been that simple. The 49ers tried to go the veteran route in 2024, and that player literally quit on the team. Winters couldn’t stay healthy, which is something the 49ers have dealt with on multiple occasions with Greenlaw.
Martin is the wild card. If he proves to be an effective blitzer, he may carve out a role for himself, regardless of Greenlaw’s health. If Greenlaw does miss time and we see Wallow, it will not be a good look for Martin. Wallow was fine in spot duty, but that’s not the type of player who should be starting on a playoff defense.
Realistically, the 49ers will spend another Day 3 pick next year on a linebacker. Tatum Bethune and Jaden Dugger are likely special teamers. Bethune was impressive against the run, but not so much against the pass. Teams picked on him. Dugger doesn’t have any expectations. If he makes the team, that’d be a win.
There are a lot of names, but the quantity doesn’t equal quality. Don’t be surprised if we see more packages this year with more defensive backs and fewer linebackers if the 49ers are struggling at the position next to Warner.
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