49ers 2025 free agency tracker: Offseason moves, signings

NFL free agencyis here, and we're keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2025 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts. The new league year began on March 12 and free agent signings can now become official. The first round of the 2025 NFL draft begins April 24 on ESPN.

Here's a breakdown of every 2025 NFL free agent signing by the San Francisco 49ers and how each will impact the upcoming season:

Luke Farrell, TE

Farrell agreed to a three-year contract worth up to $20.25 million with $11 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

What it means: After losing Charlie Woerner to free agency last offseason, the Niners sought to find a legitimate No. 2 tight end behind George Kittle but were rebuffed in those efforts. This year, they add Farrell, who is known more for his blocking than pass-catching ability, to the mix on a fairly sizable deal (a reported $11 million in guarantees). It's also fair to wonder if Farrell's addition influenced the decision to release fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who took a pay cut last year and was scheduled to count $6.496 million against the 2025 salary cap.

What's the risk: In his four years in Jacksonville, Farrell had just 36 receptions for 318 yards and no touchdowns. Though there's nothing wrong with paying to improve the blocking at the position, there is also the risk of letting the opponent know what you're doing any time he is on the field. And while a second tight end has been a need, this is a hefty price for a player who, to this point in his career, has been one-dimensional.

Patrick Taylor Jr., RB

Taylor re-signed on a one-year deal.

What it means: The Niners lost running back Elijah Mitchell to the Chiefs in the opening hours of free agency and Jordan Mason is a restricted free agent drawing interest elsewhere. That helped lead to a reunion with Taylor, who was signed to help on special teams but played a bigger role for the 49ers because of injuries last season. Taylor will likely be battling for a spot on the depth chart again in 2025, but having a year of experience in the system should give him a bit of a head start.

What's the risk: There's not much risk to be found in a cost-effective one-year deal. But the only real concern will come if the 49ers stop looking to add help at the position. With Christian McCaffreyand Isaac Guerendo coming off injury, the 49ers need more depth and competition here. Of course, they almost always draft at least one running back, so it will be a surprise if they don't look for more this year.

Richie Grant, S

Grant agreed to a one-year contract.

What it means: After losing Talanoa Hufanga to the Broncos in free agency, the 49ers already have their replacement on the roster in Malik Mustapha. But more depth was needed, hence the addition of Grant. In four seasons in Atlanta, he started 33 games, with most of those coming in 2022 and 2023. He had 275 tackles, 3 interceptions and 4 forced fumbles in 67 total games.

For the 49ers, his immediate role figures to involve plenty of special teams -- he averaged 267 special teams snaps per season in Atlanta -- while working as a backup to Mustapha and Ji'Ayir Brown.

What's the risk:Though the 49ers had been planning for Hufanga's departure, it remains to be seen whether they have enough at the position to improve from last year. Brown struggled through something of a sophomore slump and although Mustapha flashed plenty of potential, he struggled with injury issues. Grant isn't likely a long-term fix, but he has been healthy and available throughout his career. Regardless, the Niners need to continue addressing this position.

Luke Gifford, LB

Gifford agreed to a one-year deal with 49ers.

What it means: The 49ers had the worst special teams unit in the league last year after that group played a significant role in their Super Bowl LVIII loss. And although San Francisco hasn't been actively adding much in the early part of the negotiating window, it does seem to be prioritizing fixing special teams at long last. Gifford was fifth in the NFL last season with 14 special teams tackles and his 49 since entering the league in 2019 is tied for ninth. Gifford also played a career-high 196 snaps on defense in 2024, posting 35 tackles and an interception.

What's the risk: Much like with the addition of safety Richie Grant, this is a move geared toward special teams and not bolstering a defense that has lost a lot of key players in the past couple of days. Dre Greenlaw's departure to Denver might be the most difficult of the losses for the Niners, and nobody is expecting Gifford to be that player. But the Niners must continue to address this position given how important it is to have a reliable running mate next to Fred Warner.

Kevin Givens, DT

Givens re-signed on a one-year deal.

What it means: There have been few certainties on the 49ers defensive line in recent years but one name continues to find its way on to the depth chart: Givens. The Niners discovered Givens as an undrafted free agent in 2019, earned a roster spot and has stuck around ever since. In that time, he has played in 65 games with 91 tackles, 8 sacks, 3 passes defended, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble. Givens is a solid, if unspectacular, part of the line and figures to continue providing depth as the 49ers renovate the defensive front yet again.

What's the risk: The 49ers' efforts to get their defensive line back to 2019 levels of dominance have continued to come up short, which means no position group on the team needs more attention than this one. Retaining Givens should be only the first in a flurry of moves that brings two new starters on the interior following the releases of Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins. Don't be surprised if a defensive tackle is the team's top target with the No. 11 pick in April's draft.

Jason Pinnock, S

Pinnock agreed to a one-year deal.

What it means: The second safety addition the 49ers made Tuesday, Pinnock profiles more as potential competition to contribute on defense rather than as a special teams contributor. The 49ers have Mustapha and Brown as projected starters but Brown struggled in 2024 and Mustapha still has to prove he can stay healthy and produce consistently.

Pinnock brings plenty of experience with 39 starts in four NFL seasons, including 85 tackles and three sacks for the Giants in 2024. He also has familiarity with Niners defensive coordinator Robert Saleh from their time together with the Jets, which should make for an easer transition.

What's the risk: This is another one-year deal that doesn't bring much risk and Pinnock has been durable in his time in the NFL, missing just three games because of injury in his four NFL seasons. Still, with Hufanga and Tashaun Gipson Sr. not on the roster, there is little in the way of proven starters, let alone depth, on the roster. There are other, more pressing needs but safety should not be forgotten as the offseason rolls along. At minimum, more competition is needed.

Demarcus Robinson, WR

Robinson and the 49ers agreed to a two-year, $9.5 million contract.

What it means: Consider this Brandon Aiyuk insurance. Aiyuk is still recovering from the knee injury he suffered in October and there's no timetable for a return just yet. If he's not ready to start the season, the 49ers needed a veteran wideout to help fill the void. Enter Robinson, who comes to the Niners from a team that runs a similar offensive scheme and offers a recent track record of production. Robinson had 31 receptions for a career-high 505 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024. He can be expected to work alongside Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall until Aiyuk is back.

What's the risk: The biggest concern with Robinson is the lingering legal issue he has stemming from a misdemeanor DUI arrest in November. Recently, Rams general manager Les Snead alluded to the potential for Robinson to be suspended when asked whether Robinson could be back with the Rams. If Robinson does miss time, that could coincide with games Aiyuk might miss and leave the Niners still in search of help at the position. Which is why the 49ers will need to continue adding depth at the position.

Tre Brown, CB

Brown, the former Seahawk, has agreed to a one-year deal with the 49ers.

What it means: After losing Charvarius Ward, the 49ers needed a No. 3 cornerback and Brown, at minimum, has a chance to fill that role. Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green occupy the top two spots but a corner who can play outside to allow Lenoir to bump into the slot in nickel situations is necessary. Brown had a solid 2023 season and despite his lack of size (5'10, 185 pounds), he brings the necessary physicality to hold up against the run. His press coverage skills also figure to appeal to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.

What's the risk: Durability is a question for Brown. He had a rough 2024 season in which he was slowed by an ankle injury and benched after struggling against the 49ers. His lack of size can lend itself to getting banged up at times, especially over the past two seasons though he still played in 28 games over those two seasons. Like with most of their other signings so far, this is a flier on upside and potential and the Niners will need to continue to add to fill out the cornerback room.

Mac Jones, QB

Jones agreed to a two-year deal worth$7 million -- with $5 million guaranteed.

What it means: Jones and the 49ers is a pairing that much of the football world expected to happen in 2021 when San Francisco had the No. 3 overall pick after trading up with Miami. Instead, the 49ers opted for Trey Lance, which didn't work out any better than Jones did for the Patriots.

With Joshua Dobbs signing in New England and Brandon Allen set for free agency, Jones is first in line to serve as the primary backup to Brock Purdy. A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Jones wanted a chance to work with Shanahan and now, four years later, he will get that opportunity.

What's the risk: After a promising rookie campaign in New England, Jones regressed over the past three seasons split between New England and the Jaguars. Last year, in Jacksonville, Jones started seven games with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions for a QBR of 39.8. While Purdy has proved pretty durable since returning from the elbow injury that ended his 2022 season in the NFC Championship Game, he did miss a pair of starts in 2024. Jones and second-year signal caller Tanner Mordecai are the only quarterbacks behind Purdy on the roster and it's fair to wonder if those are good enough options if Purdy has to miss any time in 2025.

Curtis Robinson, LB

Robinson is re-signing with the 49ers on a one-year deal.

What it means: The 49ers haven't been able to retain many of their own free agents but Robinson is No. 3, joining defensive tackle Kevin Givens and running back Patrick Taylor Jr. Robinson was originally scheduled to be a restricted free agent but the team did not tender him and instead signed him back on different terms.

Robinson entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2021 but has managed to stick around with the 49ers on the practice squad and, at the beginning of last season, the active roster. If nothing else, he should have a chance to compete for the team's second or third linebacker jobs alongside Fred Warner and carve out a role on special teams.

What's the risk: Robinson is coming off a torn ACL suffered in Week 3 last season, an injury that prevented him from getting his first legitimate opportunity to contribute to the defense. He's mainly been a special teams player when on the active roster but there are openings at linebacker with Dre Greenlaw and De'Vondre Campbell gone. Robinson is no sure thing to nail down one of those positions and the 49ers will continue to add to the linebacker group but, if he can get back to full speed, he has a chance to elbow his way into the mix.

Siran Neal, CB

Neal is signing a two-year deal with the 49ers.

What it means: The 30-year-old Neal has made his way in the league by turning himself into an indispensable special teams player, which is exactly what the 49ers hope he will be for them. The Niners had the worst special teams unit in the league last year and have already made a handful of moves to try to correct that in this offseason cycle. Neal was 14th in the NFL in special teams snaps last year (368) and posted seven special teams tackles. Since 2020, his 43 special teams tackles is tied for ninth in the NFL.