John Lynch addresses 49ers' lopsided offseason full of free agency losses

It appears there's a method to the San Francisco 49ers' offseason madness.

After a six-year window of tweaking and adjusting every offseason to try and roster a Super Bowl contender, the 49ers have let go of the rope in 2025 and allowed a mass exodus of free agents without bringing in many replacements. Their high-profile losses include linebacker Dre Greenlaw, All-Pro cornerback Charvarius Ward and All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga. They've also outright released starters like defensive linemen Javon Hargrave, Leonard Floyd and Maliek Collins.

The tumultuous offseason comes after a disappointing 6-11 finish to the 2024 season for San Francisco. Despite the departure of so many players with so few replacements coming via free agency, general manager John Lynch isn't panicked.

He spoke with the Athletic's Matt Barrows on Wednesday at Stanford's Pro Day and insisted there's a plan the team is executing.

"We’ve got this thing called the draft, and we’ve got a lot of picks,” Lynch told the Athletic. “And I think the thing the fans should know is, we have a plan. And we’re gonna execute that plan. And we’re excited about the opportunity.”

It's true the 49ers have an NFL-high 11 picks in this year's draft, and a trade back or two could give them a massive rookie haul. In recent years the volume of selections has mattered less for San Francisco because they haven't had as many holes to fill. Now, with a sizable extension likely on the horizon for quarterback Brock Purdy, the team is adjusting its financial situation to ensure they're in a healthy salary cap position.

That leaves a slew of openings for starting jobs and the 49ers will be looking for young, cost-controlled players to fill those roles in the immediate and beyond.

It's a bit of a risk, but it's also the reality of team-building in the NFL. At some point teams have to hit on draft picks, and San Francisco hasn't done a good enough job in recent years to ensure their roster was restocked with young, affordable talent. That puts a spotlight on the 2025 offseason where the exodus of expensive, aging players looks more dire because the cupboard is relatively bare.

The 49ers are now turning toward the draft where they'll need to replenish their roster for a bounce-back year in 2025, and so they can try opening a new Super Bowl window that extends beyond the next season or two.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: John Lynch addresses 49ers' lopsided offseason of free agency losses

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