The San Francisco 49ers have already had an eventful offseason. Deebo Samuel has requested a trade and contracts for George Kittle and Brock Purdy are on the to do list of general manager John Lynch. But San Francisco took one of their first steps of the offseason when they made tenders to seven players on Monday.
According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, the Niners have tendered all seven of their exclusive rights free agents to contracts for the 2025 season. NFL rules state that an exclusive rights free agent is a player with an expired contract that has fewer than three accrued seasons in the league, giving their original team the exclusive right to negotiate them.
Per source the 49ers will tender all of their exclusive rights free agents
— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) February 17, 2025
Pro Football Network’s explainer also points out that a player must have been on a team’s roster for six or more regular season games to accrue a season and the player does not have to be active for those games. Players on injured reserve and the physically unable to perform list also get credit toward an accrued season.
The list of 49ers players who agreed to one year tenures includes:
- TE Jake Tonges
- LB Jalen Graham
- TE Brayden Willis
- EDGE Sam Okuayinonu
- EDGE Alex Barrett
- IDL Evan Anderson
- OT Austen Pleasants
Tonges appeared in 16 games for the 49ers last season collecting two tackles as a member on special teams. Jalen Graham appeared in eight games recording eight total tackles including one tackle for loss and Williis appeared in 10 games with three total tackles.
Okuayinonu appeared in 16 games and made three starts for the 49ers, making 35 total tackles including six for loss and three sacks. Barrett appeared in three games with two total tackles, Anderson appeared in 12 games with 24 total tackles and a sack and Pleasants played in three games.
These seven players will have a leg up on the competition as they compete for a spot in offseason team activities in the spring and training camp next summer.
The 49ers will be looking to rebound after finishing 6-11 last season and could take a step forward in a wide open NFC West division. With $43.6 million in cap space to add to the roster in free agency, Monday’s moves are only the beginning in what should be a busy offseason by the bay.