We’re back with a mailbag for what I call “Exit Week.” This is the week the 49ers coaching staff meets with the players one last time, gives a few words of advice, and then shifts to planning for the 2026 team.
Most of my thoughts are on optimism. The 49ers have a lot of work to do, but if this is what we get when half the team is fighting injuries, what happens when they get everything figured out? Yes, Seattle has a beast of a defense now, and Kyle Shanahan has to find a way to come up with some new magic tricks, but this “rebuild” is ahead of schedule if you ask me.
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The mailbag will continue into the offseason, though you might not see it as frequently. I appreciate everyone’s participation in making this a regular thing on the site.
For those of you wondering how you get your comments here, it’s simple. I put up a feed post asking for questions. Just mosey on over there when it comes up, give us a take or a question (either/or), and I’ll give you some (unqualified) response.
Like the questions you see here:
I’ll try for one that won’t be too controversial.
Sounds like we’ll be in the market for a new Punter. Given the successful season our Special Teams had with veterans at all 3 Specialist positions, would you want us to go veteran again with Morstead’s successor or go the rookie free agent route?
-NYners
I don’t have much to say on this subject (take that AK4niner), but Punterville hasn’t been the same since Wishnowky left. I loved Wishnowsky when the 49ers had him, and it’s a shame they had to move on. I think in the draft this year, there’s far, far more needed than a punter. So I’d expect a veteran to come in if Morstead isn’t for sure coming back. Who is that veteran? Guess I got a good post to write up.
Exit Week. Which for the 49ers braintrust does not mean vacation time. They are shifting gears and planning and positioning for next season. How about discussing something where we the fans and followers of this site might have a slight more say in potential improvements? What can be done to improve this site? One improvement that recently came about was this Golden Fool’s Mailbag. Thank you for floating the idea, Patrick. Thank you for taking input on the idea from readers. Thank you for keeping it going. Lastly, thank you in advance for taking my question.
-WeWantWinners!!!!
Thanks…I think.
last offseason the ownership group decided that they weren’t going to float much cash during free agency, they had other priorities for their cash at that time like expanding their burgeoning soccer empire in the land of beans for breakfast.
is that still the case this year? economists will tell you that a future dollar is worth less than a today dollar, but if you look at the grand total over time paying a signing bonus today reduces the amount you have to pay against the cap in the future, eventually you always end up paying the amount of the salary cap (unless you become a team that lets the rollover expire instead of applying it to the next salary cap here, and even then you can only give up like 10% of a cap).
I know they argued last year that they had been paying out cash for signing bonuses for several years in a row and they needed to take a break, and maybe that money you waste on signing bonuses isn’t the best football strategy.. but they weren’t making that decision because of the best football strategy, they made that decision because the ownership was messing around with their side gig. is that just how things are now, even if the front office wants to attack free agency and UDFAs, ownership doesn’t want to pay up front because they have other plans for their cash?
because if it’s really about getting younger and cheaper and not dabbling in kickyball in the birthplace of ,pudding, and they would have been much bigger players in the undrafted free agent market, which they weren’t last year. for a team that’s playing its fourth string in the playoffs undrafted free agency really matters.
if you’re from the UK I love you I hope you didn’t get mildly insulted, but if you have any complaints feel free to notify your local government official by sending an encrypted text to your friend.
—no_such_thing_as_nothing
Um, “kickyball” and the value of USD? Let me reread this as I’m still thinking about dabbling in kickyball in the birthplace of pudding. That actually should be a shirt.
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*rereads it*
OK, as far as spending, the speculation is that the 49ers will be spenders in free agency this year. Tim Kawakami suggests this might happen. Probably a result of their efforts last year (that younger and cheaper initiative). The decisions last year were not because someone wanted to be affordable. It was because the salary cap came calling, and the 49ers had to make some decisions to avoid cap hell.
Now, how much to spend remains to be decided. The Brandon Aiyuk guarantee still confuses me. Don’t ask for an explanation because I’m sure to mess it up. They get it in 2026, some in 2027? Whatever. But once that’s all figured out on what they have available, they have a lot of cash they can use to fill some holes. They also have the Nick Bosa insurance, which should help.
I only hope free agency moves are for the offensive line.
Jake Moody was sacked because he made only 76% of Fields Goals for the 49ers. Why is [49ers head of strength and conditioning] Dustin Perry not fired although he only achieved 11% rate of 49ers being not a Top 10 most injured team of the NHL. (He joined the 49ers 9 years ago and only 1 year they were not in the Bottom 10 of Player Health – and instead of firing him, Perry got promoted several times)
-Dr. J 2nd
I wish I had a better answer, but the 49ers just have bad luck. And no, I don’t think it’s part of that electrical plant conspiracy theory either—though I’m curious what further science they can obtain on the situation. My argument against it is that they’ve been next to that landmark since the 80s, and we didn’t see anything as we’ve seen in the last few seasons. I’m not saying it’s not the cause, I’m just saying, given the time frame, I’m a bit skeptical that’s what’s causing all the problems.
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My only issue, as I’ve said, is their philosophy and diagnosis. If someone has muscle tightness, are they held out, or are the doctors saying “you’re fine,” risking worse injury?
Matt Maiocco made a good point on his YouTube channel, saying the 49ers can’t practice as much now as they could back in the 80s and 90s due to the current collective bargaining agreement. That callus, as Kyle Shanahan calls it, is harder to develop when you can’t have near the engagement you had back then. It’s almost unhealthy that teams can’t practice more. Not only does it help play (see Brandon Aiyuk in Week 1 of 2024), it also builds up resistance to the grind. Having them play that travel schedule and short weeks probably doesn’t help.
I can’t think it’s roses with Perry, but that’s probably why you don’t see nearly as much of an issue with him when they were asked about it in their press conference. That said, the same questions came in 2019 with similar responses, and the 49ers canned their strength and conditioning coach a few months later anyway.
Other than George Kittle, if you had the opportunity to spend 24 hours with any 49er player who played this past season for the 49ers, who would you want to spend that time with?
—AK4niner
Hmmm, good question. Who would I hang out with on a team of good dudes? My first guess was Fred Warner. Warner has a certain charisma. I enjoy listening to him on his podcasts as well. Warner always keeps it very level, which I can appreciate.
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I would say Brock Purdy, simply because he’s so laid-back. I could probably talk to him without getting too anxious. I’d still take Warner.
But actually? I’d take Jauan Jennings. His intensity, his personality, his hair. That guy would be fun to spend a day with. I’d like to see what his day is like. Jennings is so likable, and it’s been fun to watch him begin as a seventh-round draft pick just fighting for a spot on the team to a guy that’s projected to make $22 million this offseason.
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