Will Chase Young be the most valuable free agent in the 49ers 2024 offseason?
The San Francisco 49ers are concentrated on finishing the regular season well and possibly making a deep playoff run because they are still one of the best teams in the NFL. However, the 49ers have an exciting group of pending free agents set to hit the market next offseason, and general manager John Lynch and the rest of the front office are already planning for that.
Who will be the top FAs in San Francisco in 2024? Let’s go over the list, starting with an acquisition made around the trade deadline that might see a steady increase in his stock over the following two months.
Who Are the Upcoming Free Agents for the San Francisco 49ers?
EDGE Chase Young
Chase Young shouldn’t have any problems earning $20 million a year on his next contract if he continues to be healthy and contribute reasonably well for the remainder of the season. Even though he will only be 25 years old when the upcoming season begins, the former No. 2 overall choice has recovered from many seasons marred by injuries to rank ninth in pass-rush win rate and 13th in total pressures.
There won’t be much competition from the rest of the pass-rushing sector. Josh Allen of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Brian Burns of the Carolina Panthers are expected to be franchised if not extended, making Danielle Hunter, 30, Young’s main FA edge defensive danger.
The 49ers may not have the money in 2024 to give Young a franchise tender worth more than $20 million. Almost $40 million in cap space from one year to the next can be carried over by San Francisco, but the team already made DE The highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL is Nick Bosa, with DT Javon Hargrave earning $21 million annually.
Young has a great opportunity to enter the free market. $25 million might be within reach in 2024, depending on how he closes out the season.
This offseason, Sam Darnold signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract to play for the 49ers. He hasn’t played much behind Brock Purdy, making just three pass attempts in two blowout games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys.
The market for Darnold in 2024 is mostly reliant on Purdy’s health. Darnold will probably accept a contract similar to the one he signed this year if San Francisco’s starter plays all season long, maybe even with the 49ers.
However, Darnold’s free agent options will increase tenfold if Kyle Shananhan’s plan works and Purdy misses time. Undoubtedly gifted physically, Darnold finished the 2022 season with the Carolina Panthers, posting a 55+ QBR in three of his seven starts.
