The San Francisco 49ers have spent the past few offseasons signing top-tier players. Their Super Bowl window was open, and the team tried to take advantage of it. Unfortunately, the bill has come due. Many of the large cap hits are causing the team to have to trim certain contracts to make cap space. That often means cutting players that teams don’t necessarily want to cut. This is the case for the 49ers, as the team informed fan-favorite player Kyle Juszczyk that they intend to release him.
San Francisoco 49ers Set To Release Kyle Juszczuk
Adam Schefter reported late on Monday night that the team is releasing Kyle Juszczyk, making him a free agent. He intends to try and find a new team. The San Francisco 49ers signed the fullback to a five-year extension back in 2021, and he was entering his final year. After being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, he signed with the 49ers in 2017, quickly becoming a favorite amongst the fan base.
During his eight-year run in San Francisco, he racked up 184 receptions for 1,895 yards and 13 touchdowns. Additionally, he added 212 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. His value wasn’t in the stats. He was the lead blocker for Christian McCaffrey and a slew of other productive running backs. His energy was infectious, and he often fired up the team with the simplest play.
2025 Outlook
It’s becoming harder to be optimistic about the San Francisco 49ers in 2025. They have lost a huge number of players today in free agency. The large contracts to Brandon Aiyuk, Nick Bosa, and Trent Williams have sucked up a ton of cap space. Additionally, Brock Purdy is in line for an extension and will command significantly more than he is making now.
Kyle Shanahan is still one of the best offensive minds in the game, and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was a great hire. However, the team is losing a ton of talent and needs to figure out how to replenish in some way. More than likely, they will rely on younger and cheaper players to step up and fill those voids. If they cannot, it will be a long season for the San Francisco 49ers.
Final Thoughts
It is never easy to see a player like Juszczyk leave. However, the NFL is a business, and at some point, the team has to do what is right for the franchise in the long run. Where will Juszcyzk end up? Not many teams use a fullback, but many teams could use his locker room presence and energy.
