The 49ers already have one deal they wish they could take back in Brandon Aiyuk. But Luke Farrell’s contract is starting to look like another one that’s going to sit badly on the books, and 2026 could make that even more obvious.
San Francisco handed Farrell a three-year, $15.7 million contract with $11 million guaranteed last year in free agency. At the time, it was easy enough to talk yourself into the move. The price felt a little steep for a tight end who didn’t bring much as a receiver, but the 49ers clearly believed his blocking could make him useful and maybe even give him room to grow.
That never really happened.
Farrell was brought in because of his extraordinary blocking, but he didn’t deliver that level of impact for the 49ers. He also never carved out a real role in the passing game, which left the team with a player who wasn’t providing enough in either direction.
By the middle of the 2025 season, the deal had already started to look rough. The 49ers are stuck with the guaranteed money, and that $11 million is gone whether Farrell produces or not.
His disappointing 2025 season also helped push the 49ers to extend Jake Tonges. Maybe they would have done that anyway, but if Farrell had shown anything as a receiver, it’s fair to think the team might have gone a different direction.
The 49ers probably should have moved on from Farrell this offseason, but the guarantees made that impossible. Now they’re carrying him for another year, and there’s no real expectation that he’ll offer anything as a pass catcher.
What they do need is better blocking. Farrell’s struggles played a role in the run game being ineffective, and that has to change in 2026.
That matters even more with George Kittle possibly on the mend early in the season. If Kittle is still working his way back from a torn Achilles, Farrell’s job becomes even more important.
And even once Kittle is back, Farrell still has a role to fill. Tonges can’t block to save his life, which leaves Farrell as the main option to help there unless Tonges improves.
At this point, the 49ers just need something from Farrell. The contract already looks like a loss, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if 2026 brings more of the same.
In Other News...
49ers Look Loaded Everywhere Except The One Unit Fans Still Fear
Sharp Football Analysis sees plenty to like about the 49ers heading into 2026, with the roster landing in the top 10 at four of five positional groups. The offense still looks stacked at receiver and tight end, the offensive line and quarterback spots are well regarded, and the defensive front seven also draws strong marks, which is a reminder of how much talent remains in place around a team trying to stay in the contender conversation.
The one area that still stands out as a concern is the secondary, which Sharp slots 26th and which remains the lone below-average unit on the roster. San Francisco is bringing back all of its starters there, including Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green and Upton Stout, while also adding veterans Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones, so the group has both continuity and new faces. Even with Raheem Morris now coordinating the defense and Osa Odighizuwa joining the mix up front, the back end is still the part of this team that feels most likely to decide how far it can go. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk Just Sent 49ers Fans A Loud Message About His Future
Brandon Aiyuk has once again put his future in the spotlight, this time with a social media video that has only added to the chatter around where he might be playing next. The 49ers wide receiver is still under contract after signing his extension in 2024, but the noise around his situation has not gone away, and the latest post has given fans another reason to wonder how long he will remain in San Francisco.
Aiyuk has made it clear he is looking for a fresh start, and that has kept this story alive even without any official movement. For the 49ers, it is a reminder that one of their most talented pass catchers is still at the center of uncertainty, with speculation building while the team waits for the next real development. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Shanahan May Already Be Bracing For Another Staff Loss
Klay Kubiak has spent the past few seasons climbing quickly inside the 49ers building, and the latest chatter around him suggests that ascent may not stop in San Francisco. Since joining the staff in 2021, he has moved into the offensive coordinator role and held it through 2026, a sign of how much trust Kyle Shanahan has placed in him as the offense has continued to function at a high level.
The bigger question now is how long the 49ers can keep him in the fold. Bleacher Report has already pointed to Kubiak as a possible head-coaching candidate for 2027, and his name carries obvious weight in coaching circles given his family background and the success of his brother, Klint, with the Raiders. For Shanahan, the challenge is familiar: develop assistants, lean on them heavily, and then try to keep them from becoming the next attractive hire elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]