The Worst Move the 49ers Have Made This Offseason. In an offseason full of questionable, head-scratching moves, it’s not easy to pick the worst one the 49ers have made. However, a few stand out as particularly baffling.
A Strange Cycle with Kyle Juszczyk
One of the more mystifying decisions was releasing veteran fullback Kyle Juszczyk, absorbing a dead-cap hit of more than $3 million, only to re-sign him four days later to essentially the same contract. To make matters worse, they traded away promising young running back Jordan Mason just to clear cap space for Juszczyk’s return. This move raised eyebrows across the league as it seemed like an unnecessary financial and roster shuffle with no real benefit.
The Dre Greenlaw Fiasco
Another blunder was their handling of linebacker Dre Greenlaw. The 49ers low-balled Greenlaw in negotiations, only to scramble at the last minute to match the Denver Broncos’ three-year, $35 million offer. Greenlaw ultimately chose to leave, making the situation even more embarrassing for San Francisco. Losing a key defensive contributor due to poor contract negotiations is a mistake that could have long-term consequences.
Leonard Floyd Over Joey Bosa?
Releasing Leonard Floyd, who played all 17 games and recorded 8.5 sacks last season, was another head-scratcher. The move was reportedly made in an effort to pursue Joey Bosa, who played just 14 games and recorded only 5 sacks in 2024. But the 49ers were ultimately outbid by the Buffalo Bills, leaving them without either player. This left a glaring hole in their pass rush with no clear upgrade.
The Luke Farrell Overpay
But the most inexplicable move of all has to be the signing of tight end Luke Farrell. Farrell is strictly a blocking tight end, with just 36 catches and zero touchdowns over his four-year NFL career. Despite this, the 49ers handed him a three-year, $20.25 million contract—essentially to replace Charlie Woerner, who was their blocking tight end from 2023 to 2024. Woerner signed a three-year, $12 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons, a move that was already seen as a slight overpay. Committing nearly $7 million per season to Farrell for the same role is nothing short of absurd.
A Puzzling Offseason
The 49ers, a team with championship aspirations, have made a series of moves that raise legitimate concerns about their decision-making process. From unnecessary cap hits to botched negotiations and overpays, San Francisco’s offseason has been filled with missteps. Whether these decisions come back to haunt them remains to be seen, but right now, it’s hard to argue against the idea that the Luke Farrell signing stands as their worst move yet.
