In just over two weeks, the San Francisco 49ers will have to make a lot of decisions on free agency.
Exactly twenty-one choices, as that is the number of players expected to be released as free agents. For a variety of reasons, not everyone will resign.
The 49ers will give priority to some players over others, which is one of the reasons. These four free agents ought to be the 49ers’ top picks when they decide to resign.
DT Javon Kinlaw
Javon kinlaw’s career has been underwhelming and even frustrating. This has been mainly due to the injuries that have been sustained. This season was the first time he had the opportunity to play a full season. And boy, did he prove to be a crucial role player on the defensive line.
He is unlikely to have the first round impact that the 49ers gave him in the first round. Kinlaw has shown that he can make a big difference in how he commands and even disrupts double teams.
The 49ers need a player like this to succeed. Kinlaw should be able to return on a cheap deal as well. I’d wager that a one-year $4 million deal with incentives would get it done, and that the 49ers should enjoy it. Given how kinlaw looked in his first full season, i’d wager that the deal would turn out to be a bargain with him improving.
DE Clelin Ferrell
I’d never have imagined that clelin ferrell would’ve been a great role player for the 49ers, but that’s exactly what happened. He made me eat my words by being a good run defense and a pass rusher. His absence was felt when he sustained a torn meniscus injury in the playoffs.
That shows that he is a player worth returning to. The only thing he needs is to recover from his injury, but the 49ers should re-sign him. His cost will be about the same as when they signed him last year, which was $2.5 million.
Maybe the 49ers will raise it to $3 million or provide incentives. Ferrell should be seen as a valuable player for the 49ers to bring back to avoid more holes on the defensive line.
OL Jon Feliciano
Jon feliciano is the second best offensive lineman for the 49ers this season, according to the report. Being able to fill in at both the left and right guard was a life saver.
Feliciano will eventually play the right guard starting role, and the 49ers should be hoping for it in 2024. Spencer burford isn’t the right option at the moment, and although feliciano isn’t the right long-term option, he does provide the 49ers with a contingency. The 49ers can then look to the draft for their future in the league.
Feliciano is the type of offensive lineman that they need to keep. they have always had a solid swing offensive lineman, and they need him to stay.
WR Jauan Jennings
I must admit that i was a little reluctant to include jauan jennings on here. He is a free agent with a restraining order, so it is likely he will return. It all depends on the draft tender they gave him.
I’d guess the 49ers will offer jennings a second round bid. It would practically guarantee the 49ers that he would return. Will they be able to pay him nearly $5 million? He is certainly worth it, and maybe even more, but he is the 49ers’ third-best wide receiver and the offense’s fifth/sixth.
At this moment, jennings is more of a luxury than a necessity. It really all depends on whether the 49ers believe they can get someone young or sign someone cheaper. But in the end, i think they will lean toward bringing him back and not feeling any regrets about it as opposed to letting him walk.
