The San Francisco 49ers are staring down a long list of 21 unrestricted free agents this offseason. But when you break it down, there are only a handful of names that truly jump off the page - and wide receiver Jauan Jennings is chief among them.
Jennings has carved out a role as a tough, reliable target who brings physicality and clutch playmaking to the offense. If there’s one player from this group the Niners should make a serious effort to retain, it’s him.
Beyond that? The rest of the list is filled with depth pieces, rotational players, and a few veterans who may not be part of the long-term vision.
Take interior offensive linemen Ben Bartch and Spencer Burford, for example. Both have logged starting reps, but their performances haven’t exactly solidified the interior line as a strength. That group has been a persistent soft spot, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the 49ers use this offseason to retool the middle of their offensive front rather than doubling down on what hasn’t worked.
Instead of locking in backup offensive and defensive pieces, the smarter play might be to focus on a unit that quietly became one of the team’s biggest strengths in 2025: special teams.
Every core specialist - kicker Eddy Pineiro, punter Thomas Morstead, and long snapper Jon Weeks - is headed for free agency. So are the team’s top returners, Skyy Moore and Brian Robinson Jr., along with linebacker and special teams ace Luke Gifford.
Let’s start with the return game. Robinson, who was acquired via trade last season, averaged 29.1 yards per kick return - 11th-best among qualifying players.
But it was Moore who brought real juice to the unit. After arriving from Kansas City, he averaged 27.5 yards per kick return (15th) and 11.6 yards per punt return (11th).
Those are field-flipping numbers, and his ability to consistently set up the offense with favorable field position turned him into a quiet difference-maker down the stretch.
Both Moore and Robinson also offer depth on offense, which only adds to their value. If the 49ers can bring them back at a reasonable number, it’s a move that makes sense on multiple levels.
Then there’s Luke Gifford. He didn’t just contribute on special teams - he was the heartbeat of the unit.
With 373 special teams snaps, tied for most on the team with Siran Neal, Gifford earned his first Pro Bowl nod and proved to be one of the most dependable coverage players in the league. He’s the kind of player you want in your locker room and on your kickoff team.
Morstead and Weeks are steady veterans who should be relatively easy to bring back. But the most important piece of this puzzle might be Eddy Pineiro.
After a rollercoaster year from Jake Moody, Pineiro brought calm to the kicking game. He missed just one of his 29 field goal attempts in 2025 - a 64-yarder that clanged off the upright in Indianapolis.
That’s elite-level consistency, and it didn’t go unnoticed across the league. Pineiro is likely to draw interest from other teams, but his strong fit in San Francisco - both on the field and in the locker room - could give the 49ers an edge in keeping him around.
The impact of this special teams unit can’t be overstated. With Pineiro, Morstead, Moore, and Gifford leading the way, the 49ers went from near the bottom of the league in special teams efficiency to second in EPA. That’s a massive leap, and it played a key role in their overall success.
So while the headlines this offseason may focus on bigger names or flashier positions, don’t overlook what’s happening in the third phase. If the 49ers want to stay sharp in 2026, keeping the core of their special teams intact should be a top priority.