This offseason, the San Francisco 49ers have seen a mass exodus, with multiple players on the defensive side of the ball leaving in free agency and signing with different teams across the NFL for the 2025 season.
The 49ers didn’t see that much turnover on offense. However, they did trade veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in late February, which sent some shockwaves around the league. Then, they traded restricted free-agent Jordan Mason last month to the Minnesota Vikings.
With the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon, the 49ers will look to add some fresh young talent on both sides of the ball, especially on defense. That said, with new players on the verge of being added to the 90-man roster, a couple of current 49ers could be on their way out of the Bay Area next month.
1. Drake Jackson, Defensive End
The 49ers had high hopes for the 24-year-old pass rusher after taking him in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Jackson, a Corona, California native who went to USC, had a solid collegiate career with the Trojans (103 combined tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery).
For the 49ers, it was a no-brainer to draft someone from their backyard with Jackson’s size to be a good complement to Nick Bosa on the defensive line. However, the former second-round pick’s career has gotten off to a disappointing slow start, and he’s on the verge of being a draft bust.
As a rookie in 2022, Jackson had 14 combined tackles, eight pass deflections, six quarterback hits, three tackles for loss, three sacks, and an interception in 15 games. It wasn’t a great rookie season by Jackson, but it left room for improvement heading into Year 2.
However, in 2023, Jackson’s season abruptly ended as he suffered a torn patellar tendon. The former USC standout defender recorded seven combined tackles, three quarterback hits, three sacks, and a pass deflection in eight games.
Jackson’s torn patellar tendon injury also caused him to miss the entire 2024 season, which was disappointing for the 49ers. Last season, the Niners’ defensive line could’ve used Jackson as they struggled with production.
At the NFL Scouting Combine in February, Lynch was asked about Jackson’s progress and said the former second-round pick has had trouble coming back from the injury.
"Drake hasn't had setbacks, but he has had trouble coming back from it. It's not been the most encouraging thing. Hopefully, it takes a turn for the positive because we've seen Drake when he's healthy. He can be a real effective player for us. So we're crossing our fingers and putting in all the work as is Drake."49ers GM John Lynch
With Jackson’s health up in the air for this season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see if the 49ers add multiple pass rushers in the draft, as they have 11 picks. They must get younger on the defensive line, making this the perfect time.