The San Francisco 49ers are likely going to be tied to a slew of free agents throughout the early portion of training camp. Wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Deebo Samuel have both come up as possible additions for San Francisco in the days leading up to camp, but don’t expect the 49ers to be active in the free agent market.
An significant addition in the day or two before camp or early in camp without an unforeseen injury isn’t a typical 49ers move. If they were going to take a swing for a player like Diggs, Samuel or defensive end Joey Bosa, they likely would’ve had that business done by now.
Instead, we’re more likely to see San Francisco lean on its veterans to pick up any slack left behind by rookies and second-year players who haven’t proven themselves. They’ll look to Christian Kirk and Demarcus Robinson to produce if De’Zhaun Stribling struggles. A player like Keion White will see a bigger role if a player like Romello Height can’t make an impact as a rookie.
During the John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan regime, the club has tended to bet on its own internal talent before going out and taking a swing either via free agency or the trade market.
That’s not to say a player like Diggs, Samuel or Bosa couldn’t help the 49ers. Adding depth, especially high quality depth, can help round out a Super Bowl roster.
Even if the 49ers were a team that waited until late July to put the finishing touches on its offseason additions, this year’s team may not have the front office convinced that it’s a late-July free agent away from getting over the hump. While they have a talented roster, it’s an aging group with more question marks among its ranks of elite players than they’ve had in years past. There are injury question marks and enough unknowns among their group of young players to hold off on making a signing that could ultimately not bear any fruit.
A more realistic scenario for the 49ers when it comes to adding new talent will be one where they make a move or two at the November 10 trade deadline. They’ll want to see exactly what they have with this roster and how healthy they are going into mid-November.
If they’re getting strong performances from their veterans and some young players make a leap, then we can expect the 49ers to take a big swing in the trade market.
If they’re struggling, then we’re more likely to see what we saw last year where they add a young player on the margins to see if they can provide a lift in the immediate while bringing some long-term upside. They did that in 2025 when they acquired defensive end Keion White from the Patriots to help their battered defense.
There are a handful of quality free agents on the market, and while they all come with a list of pros and cons, they would undoubtedly give the 49ers more depth. Just don’t expect the 49ers to add any of those players until the team has more certainty about exactly what it has on its roster.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Don’t expect 49ers to spend money, sign more free agents any time soon
Reporting by Kyle Madson, Niners Wire / Niners Wire
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By Kyle Madson, Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
