49ers must rely on these 4 players to assume bigger roles in 2025

The turnover the 49ers are poised to experience this offseason means these four players have to step up in a big way.

One of the most difficult aspects for any NFL team any given offseason is successfully navigating the inevitable turnover and attrition in order to improve a roster.

Or, at the very least, maintain one.

The San Francisco 49ers are going to have some notable changes entering 2025. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, cornerback Charvarius Ward, safety Talanoa Hufanga and wide receiver Deebo Samuel all seem poised to play elsewhere this upcoming season, which requires general manager John Lynch to do some active roster-building via free agency and this year’s NFL Draft.

However, part of the attrition alleviation requires relying on in-house options, and the Niners have a few of those, too.

Building a successful roster means installing a pipeline of younger up-and-coming players to replace aging, increasingly expensive ones who are no longer deemed part of the team’s future.

In San Francisco’s case, these four have to answer the call in 2025.

No. 1: Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall

First-round draftees always receive a lot of attention early, and this should be said about the 49ers’ top investment from 2024, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, whose NFL career nearly ended before it even began after suffering a gunshot wound in an attempted robbery last August.

Not only did Pearsall survive, but his miraculous story included a return to the field his rookie season where he produced 400 yards receiving and three touchdowns over 11 games.

Ricky Pearsall goes 46 yards for his first career TD!

📺: #SFvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/R7zjs0naAm

— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024

But the context at his position this offseason pushes Pearsall to the forefront. Samuel requested a trade, and the Niners seem content with letting him seek employment elsewhere, while No. 1 wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from last year’s ACL and MCL tears, jeopardizing his availability for the start of 2025.

Unless San Francisco makes a splash move this offseason, Pearsall’s role as a top wideout is pretty much set, and it’ll be up to him to respond accordingly.

No. 2: Running back Isaac Guerendo

No other position on the 49ers roster last year was as dangerous as running back, cemented by season-ending injuries to Jordan Mason and Christian McCaffrey, the latter already having missed the first half because of Achilles issues.

The turnover the 49ers are poised to experience this offseason means these four players have to step up in a big way.

One of the most difficult aspects for any NFL team any given offseason is successfully navigating the inevitable turnover and attrition in order to improve a roster.

Or, at the very least, maintain one.

The San Francisco 49ers are going to have some notable changes entering 2025. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, cornerback Charvarius Ward, safety Talanoa Hufanga and wide receiver Deebo Samuel all seem poised to play elsewhere this upcoming season, which requires general manager John Lynch to do some active roster-building via free agency and this year’s NFL Draft.

However, part of the attrition alleviation requires relying on in-house options, and the Niners have a few of those, too.

Building a successful roster means installing a pipeline of younger up-and-coming players to replace aging, increasingly expensive ones who are no longer deemed part of the team’s future.

In San Francisco’s case, these four have to answer the call in 2025.

No. 1: Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall

First-round draftees always receive a lot of attention early, and this should be said about the 49ers’ top investment from 2024, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, whose NFL career nearly ended before it even began after suffering a gunshot wound in an attempted robbery last August.

Not only did Pearsall survive, but his miraculous story included a return to the field his rookie season where he produced 400 yards receiving and three touchdowns over 11 games.

But the context at his position this offseason pushes Pearsall to the forefront. Samuel requested a trade, and the Niners seem content with letting him seek employment elsewhere, while No. 1 wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from last year’s ACL and MCL tears, jeopardizing his availability for the start of 2025.

Unless San Francisco makes a splash move this offseason, Pearsall’s role as a top wideout is pretty much set, and it’ll be up to him to respond accordingly.

No. 2: Running back Isaac Guerendo

No other position on the 49ers roster last year was as dangerous as running back, cemented by season-ending injuries to Jordan Mason and Christian McCaffrey, the latter already having missed the first half because of Achilles issues.

McCaffrey is poised to return fully healthy, yes. But, with Mason a restricted free agent, there’s a good chance the Niners opt to let him hit the open market instead of tendering him, essentially leaving 2024 rookie Isaac Guerendo as the lone rostered backup to McCaffrey.

It’s an important role, too. San Francisco wanted to limit McCaffrey’s wear and tear entering 2024 after his 2,023-yard campaign the season prior.

That means someone needs to back up McCaffrey.

Guerendo, the fourth-round draftee from a year ago, showed he’s capable of doing this, starting three games out of necessity in 2024 and averaging 5.0 yards per rush over 16 games played in the process.

It’s likely 2025 requires him to be the No. 2 guy on the depth chart from the outset.

No. 3: Linebacker Dee Winters

Greenlaw should be the 49ers’ No. 1 re-sign priority this offseason, although it seems as if he wants to explore other opportunities.

Either way, third-year pro backer Dee Winters is going to experience a promotion in 2025.

Winters, a sixth-round pick from the 2023 draft, found himself buried on the depth chart behind veteran linebackers De’Vondre Campbell and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles last season. Considering those two are all but assured to depart this offseason, too, the Niners will need at least a reliable No. 3 backer (if Greenlaw returns) or a starting-caliber option to pair with All-Pro Fred Warner (if Greenlaw signs elsewhere).

On the positive side, Winters managed to start 10 games last season but was still very much a rotational piece, appearing on just 41 percent of San Francisco’s defensive snaps.

Should Greenlaw leaves, Winters might have to be the go-to option.

No. 4: Defensive end Yetur-Gross Matos

Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos’ trajectory this offseason is an interesting one. He has no guaranteed money in 2025, the final season of the two-year free-agent deal signed an offseason ago, making him a potential salary cap casualty.

On the other hand, Gross-Matos had some modest-but-impressive impacts during his injury-abbreviated first year in the Bay Area, and the 49ers value rotational pass-rushers who have either flown under the radar or underwhelmed elsewhere. Such was the case with Gross-Matos, who never quite cut it with the Carolina Panthers during the first four seasons of his pro career.

Missed tackles were a problem (he had five in 2024). But the Niners have glaring question marks on the edge behind All-Pro Nick Bosa. Leonard Floyd is a situational pass-rusher, at best, at this stage of his career, while the developments of reserve defensive ends Robert Beal Jr. and Drake Jackson haven’t gone according to plan.

Even if San Francisco spends prized assets on an edge rusher this offseason, Gross-Matos could easily assume a bigger rotational role over the course of 2025.

If the 49ers don’t release him, of course.