49ers Face Cap-Crunch Reality Check After Gritty 2025 Run: Aiyuk, Huff, Brendel Among Tough Offseason Decisions
The San Francisco 49ers didn’t just limp through the 2025 season-they clawed, scrapped, and somehow posted a 12-5 record despite a roster that looked more like a triage unit than a Super Bowl contender. But now, with the dust settled and a sobering playoff exit in the rearview, the Niners are staring down a different kind of challenge: the financial kind.
This offseason is about more than just retooling-it’s about survival. And to stay competitive in 2026, San Francisco might have to make some gut-wrenching calls on veteran players. Three names are already surfacing as potential cap casualties: Brandon Aiyuk, Bryce Huff, and Jake Brendel.
A Season That Took Everything-and Then Some
Let’s rewind for a second. The 49ers entered 2025 with championship expectations.
On paper, they had it all: a loaded roster, a creative offensive mind in Kyle Shanahan, and a front office that’s made a habit of winning the margins. But injuries hit hard and fast.
Christian McCaffrey was the heartbeat of the offense, powering through the chaos to earn AP Comeback Player of the Year honors. But beyond him, the 49ers were in survival mode.
Quarterback Brock Purdy missed a chunk of the season with a turf toe injury, forcing Mac Jones into action during the team’s most turbulent stretch. Shanahan responded the only way he could-by dialing up a run-heavy, quick-pass offense that kept the chains moving and the team in playoff contention.
The defense? Even more battered.
Losing Fred Warner and Nick Bosa to season-ending injuries was a gut punch. That’s the core of your identity, gone.
Veteran Eric Kendricks stepped in admirably, and young players were thrown into the fire before they were ready. Somehow, they still found a way.
San Francisco punched its postseason ticket and delivered a gritty 23-19 Wild Card upset over the defending champion Eagles. It was a classic Niners win-physical, methodical, and built on smart, situational football.
But when they ran into the top-seeded Seahawks in the Divisional Round, the wheels finally came off. The 41-6 beatdown wasn’t just a loss-it was a reality check.
The Offseason Mandate: Reload and Reallocate
Now comes the hard part. The 49ers have about $37 million in projected cap space, but that doesn’t stretch far when you’re trying to patch multiple holes.
With Brandon Aiyuk likely headed out and both Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne hitting free agency, the wide receiver room needs a new lead dog. Someone who can stretch the field and be Purdy’s go-to target.
Defensively, the edge rush group is dangerously thin behind Bosa. Free agents Yetur Gross-Matos and Clelin Ferrell could be gone, and the team needs more juice off the edge. The offensive line, particularly the interior, is another concern-especially with George Kittle recovering from an Achilles injury and Brendel’s play tapering off.
With so many needs and limited funds, the Niners may have no choice but to cut bait with a few veterans. Let’s break down the three most likely candidates.
Brandon Aiyuk: Elite Talent, Complicated Future
Let’s be clear-cutting a player of Aiyuk’s caliber isn’t about talent. It’s about fit, value, and long-term planning.
Aiyuk has flashed WR1 ability throughout his time in Santa Clara. But injuries and reported tension with the front office have clouded his future. His 2026 guarantees were voided late last season, and the writing may be on the wall.
With Jennings emerging as a red-zone threat (9 touchdowns in 2025) and younger receivers waiting in the wings, the Niners may decide Aiyuk’s price tag no longer fits their model-especially given his durability concerns.
A post-June 1 release would allow the team to spread out the dead cap hit, making the financial blow easier to manage. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but sometimes roster building is more about allocation than emotion.
Bryce Huff: Rotational Edge, Cap Squeeze Casualty
Huff was brought in to be a complementary pass-rusher opposite Bosa, but the impact never quite matched the expectation. He was solid-serviceable, even-but not the consistent disruptor the 49ers were banking on.
When injuries forced him into a larger role, his production plateaued. That’s not ideal when you’re carrying a $5.4 million cap hit, especially for a rotational player.
San Francisco has some intriguing young edge prospects in development who could offer similar production at a much lower cost. In a cap-tight environment, Huff becomes the kind of mid-tier player who’s just expensive enough to be expendable.
Jake Brendel: Veteran Anchor, Aging Out
Brendel has been a steady presence on the interior offensive line, but at 34, the decline is becoming harder to ignore. His pass-blocking efficiency dipped in 2025, and interior pressure was a recurring issue-particularly when Purdy was sidelined and the offense had to adjust protections on the fly.
With Trent Williams turning 38, the Niners’ offensive line is trending older at a time when they need to get younger and more athletic. Brendel’s $4.1 million cap hit isn’t massive, but releasing him would free up nearly all of that money-funds that could be redirected toward guard reinforcements or draft investments.
The Big Picture: Flexibility Over Familiarity
The 49ers aren’t blowing it up. Their Super Bowl window is still open-but it’s narrower now, and the margin for error is razor-thin.
This offseason isn’t just about adding talent. It’s about making every dollar count.
Releasing Aiyuk, Huff, and Brendel would provide the financial breathing room to retain key contributors and pursue the kind of impact players who can keep this team in the title mix. It’s not about sentiment-it’s about sustainability.
San Francisco showed incredible resilience in 2025. If they want to stay in the fight in 2026, that same grit will need to show up in the front office. Because this time, the battle isn’t just on the field-it’s in the books.