Projecting the 49ers’ starting lineup in the wake of roster overhaul
SANTA CLARA – The 49ers’ macabre 2024 saw its starting lineups ravaged by injuries, personal tragedies, poor play, and, in one case, a refusal to play.
New starters are obviously coming for the 2025 season, made evident by this week’s razing of the roster. Over a dozen mainstays got cut loose and swooped up by other teams.
Rather than fill spots by signing heralded starters, the 49ers seemingly will let incumbents battle it out with young challengers or the handful of low-key arrivals from free agency thus far. The biggest changes await on defense for Robert Saleh’s encore as coordinator.
Here is a position-by-position look at who started last season and who’s projected in those spots currently:
Quarterback
2024: Brock Purdy (15), Brandon Allen (1), Josh Dobbs (1)
2025: Purdy
Quick take: As Purdy’s contract extension is hashed out, the 49ers changed out their QB depth chart, bringing in 2021 NFL Draft option Mac Jones as QB2 four years after bypassing him for Trey Lance. Young room for new coordinator Klay Kubiak and QB coach Mick Lombardi, who replaced Brian Griese.
Reserves: Jones, Tanner Mordecai
Departures: Brandon Allen (Titans), Josh Dobbs (Patriots)
Running back
2024: Jordan Mason (6), Christian McCaffrey (4), Isaac Guerendo (3), Patrick Taylor Jr. (1), Deebo Samuel (1)
2025: McCaffrey
Quick take: McCaffrey’s health is paramount for him and the 49ers to bounce back from last season’s woes. Jordan Mason drew a $5.3 million tender as wise insurance.
Reserves: Mason, Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor Jr., Israel Abanikanda
Departure: Elijah Mitchell (Chiefs)
Fullback
2024: Kyle Juszczyk (15)
2025: None
Quick take: Juszczyk’s release after eight seasons leaves a hole in the backfield and may signal a stronger shift to formations with one back and two tight ends.
Departure: Juszczyk (released)
Wide receiver
2024: Deebo Samuel (14), Jauan Jennings (10), Brandon Aiyuk (7), Ricky Pearsall (4), Chris Conley (2)
2025: Aiyuk, Jennings, Pearsall
Quick take: Demarcus Robinson, a nine-year veteran, can serve as a veteran bridge until Aiyuk is cleared from knee rehabilitation, assuming the 49ers don’t unload Aiyuk before $30 million in guarantees kick in April 1, per OverTheCap.com.
Reserves: Robinson, Jacob Cowing, Trent Taylor, Russell Gage, Terique Owens
Departures: Samuel (Commanders), Conley (free agent)
Tight end
2024: George Kittle (15), Eric Saubert (3)
2025: Kittle, Luke Farrell
Quick take: Kittle is entering the final year of his contract ($14.4 million, unguaranteed), so hammering out an extension is a must if both sides are to fulfill his retire-as-a-49er dream. Farrell, a blocking specialist, was the 49ers’ first hire in free agency (three years, $20 million).
Reserves: Brayden Willis, Jake Tonges, Mason Pline
Departures: None
Left tackle
2024: Trent Williams (10), Jaylon Moore (5), Charlie Heck (2)
2025: Williams
Quick take: The 49ers must find depth and a potential successor to Williams, who’ll be 37 this season and command the NFL’s third-highest cap figure for a left tackle ($21.7 million). He missed the final seven games last season (ankle) and has been sidelined at least two games each year since arriving in 2020.
Reserves: Austen Pleasants, Isaac Alarcon
Departures: Moore (Chiefs), Heck (Bucs).
Left guard
2024: Aaron Banks (13), Ben Bartch (2), Nick Zakelj (2)
2025: Bartch
Quick take: Bartch and Nick Zakelj figure to duke it out to replace Banks, who cashed in with the Packers for $77 million (only his $27 million signing bonus is guaranteed, per ESPN).
Reserves: Zakelj, Sebastian Gutierrez
Departures: Banks (Packers)
Center
2024: Jake Brendel (17)
2025: Brendel
Quick take: Brendel’s struggles in his third season as the 49ers’ starter could invite competition from Matt Hennessy and Drake Nugent, but as retired guard Jon Feliciano wrote on X: “Y’all got to put respect on Jake’s name. Did he have struggles early in the year. Ya but every player does. Dude has the hardest job on the field beside Pur-dog.”
Reserves: Matt Hennessy, Drake Nugent
Departure: None
Right guard
2024: Dominick Puni (17)
2025: Puni
Quick take: Puni was a rookie phenom who played all but one snap (after Mason ran into him). Offensive line coach Chris Foerster has frowned on the idea of moving Puni elsewhere on the line his sophomore season.
Reserves: Spencer Burford, Zack Johnson
Departure: None
Right tackle
2024: Colton McKivitz (17)
2025: McKivitz
Quick take: McKivitz is entering his third year as the starter, with only a year left under contract. A high draft pick seemingly could push for his job.
Reserves: Jalen McKenzie, Sebastian Gutierrez
Departure: Moore (Chiefs)
DEFENSE
Defensive end
2024: Nick Bosa (14), Leonard Floyd (17), Sam Okuayinonu (3)
2025: Bosa, Yetur Gross-Matos
Quick take: The 49ers must have big plans for the draft after failing to add a premier edge rusher in the opening week of free agency, including Nick Bosa’s brother Joey, who could become available again next year after playing out his Bills deal ($12.6 million).
Reserves: Okuayinonu, Drake Jackson, Alex Barrett, Robert Beal, Jonathan Garvin, Tarron Jackson
Departure: Floyd (Falcons)
Defensive tackle
2024: Maliek Collins (17), Jordan Elliott (13), Javon Hargrave (3), Kevin Givens (1), Evan Anderson (1)
2025: Elliott, Givens
Quick take: Elliott and Givens struggled as the 49ers’ run defense cratered last season, so searching for higher-caliber starters is priority No. 1 right now.
Reserves: Kalia Davis, Evan Anderson
Departures: Maliek Colllins (Browns), Javon Hargrave (Vikings)
Middle linebacker
2024: Fred Warner (17)
2025: Warner
Quick take: Warner fought through an ankle injury en route to his third All-Pro season, but how will the 49ers’ cost-cutting ways impact his contract status (two years left at unguaranteed salaries of $17.4 million)?
Weak-side linebacker
2024: DeVondre Campbell (13), Dre Greenlaw (2), Dee Winters (2)
2025: Winters
Quick take: Winters is entering his third season with no assurance he’ll start in Greenlaw’s place after 2024 growing pains.
Reserves: Curtis Robinson
Departure: Greenlaw (Broncos), Campbell (free agent)
Strong-side linebacker
2024: Dee Winters (6), Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (3), Tatum Bethune (1)
2025: Curtis Robinson
Quick take: Once the NFL’s most daunting linebacker corps with Warner, Greenlaw and Azeez Al-Shaiir, the 49ers need to find the next generation of “Hot Boyzz.” Gifford’s arrival should be a boon to special teams.
Reserves: Luke Gifford, Tatum Bethune, DaShaun White
Cornerbacks
2024: Deommodore Lenoir (15), Charvarius Ward (12), Renardo Green (7), Isaac Yiadom (4)
2025: Lenoir, Green
Quick take: Lenoir and Green proved an ascending duo last season during Ward’s sabbatical, but the 49ers must bolster their depth and they don’t appear willing to pay big dollars for established starters to challenge.
Reserves: Tre Brown, Darrell Luter Jr., Tre Avery, Chase Lucas
Departures: Ward (Colts), Yiadom (Saints), Rock Ya-Sin, Nick McCloud
Safety
2024: Malik Mustapha (12), JiAyir Brown (13), Talanoa Hufanga (7), George Odum (2)
2025: Mustapha, Brown
Quick take: The 49ers don’t seem content again deploying Mustapha and Brown as a starting tandem, hence their free agency additions of Jason Pinnock (Giants) and Richie Grant (Falcons), as well as a reported visit by veteran Juan Thornhill.
Reserves: Pinnock, Grant, Odum, Jalen Mahoney
Departure: Hufanga
Specialists
2024: Jake Moody (K), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Pat O’Donnell (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
2025: Moody (K), Wishnowky (P), Jon Weeks (LS)
Quick take: Jon Weeks replaces Taybor Pepper at long snapper under new special teams coordinator Brant Boyer. Neither Moody nor Wishnowsky has great job security.
Departures: Pepper (released), O’Donnell (free agent)
