Overview

• Brandon Aiyuk remains on the PUP list without a set return date while Ricky Pearsall is nearing activation and Jauan Jennings practices amid unresolved contract talks.
• With Deebo Samuel traded and limited proven options, Kyle Shanahan is elevating rookies and UDFAs like Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing to bolster the thin receiver corps.
• An under-the-radar 2025 draft pick is standing out as a candidate for a defensive starting role as coaches spread reps among younger linemen during padded practices.
• ESPN’s latest under-25 talent rankings place the 49ers last in the league with no blue-chip players under 25, fueling concerns over the team’s depth and development pipeline.
• San Francisco retains confidence in its veteran nucleus—Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Fred Warner and Nick Bosa—to anchor a competitive roster in 2025.