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Following a Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the 49ers offseason has been about reloading and setting up the future of the roster. Arik Armstead departed and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Armstead was the longest-tenured 49er and participated in both Super Bowls during the Shanahan/Lynch era. Nick Bosa, Kyle Juszczyk, Fred Warner, George Kittle, Dre Greenlaw, and Deebo Samuel played in the first Super Bowl matchup with the Chiefs and are a part of the 49ers core.
Fast-forward to 2024. Brock Purdy, Brandon Aiyuk, Trent Williams, Javon Hargrave, and Christian McCaffrey are part of the same core that has made several deep playoff runs, including last season’s run to the Super Bowl.
The elephant in the room is Purdy’s contract extension looming, with Aiyuk’s extension still not settled, although Aiyuk’s extension seems likely right before training camp begins. Clearing money for the future means making the tough decision of releasing Armstead following a restructuring attempt.
While the 49ers front office has been wise with their contract structures and restructures, the bill will still arrive eventually. The going rate for a starting quarterback rises by the day. The going rate for a quarterback who is considered top-ten is even higher.
So the question becomes: Is this the “last dance” for this 49ers core?
Yes and no. Purdy will get the money he deserves, and Aiyuk will also get his money, but the 49ers chose Ricky Pearsall with their first first-round pick since 2021. Jacob Cowing was the second receiver selected in the fourth round, which feels like a sign of an impending divorce with Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings next offseason.
The Super Bowl window won’t close anytime soon for the 49ers if the 2024 draft class results in cheap, impact starters moving forward, but the Super Bowl window with an incredibly cheap quarterback is down to this season. The 49ers have loaded up on the best players at their positions (Juszcyck, Williams, Warner, Kittle, and McCaffrey), while their quarterback has performed at a top-ten level for pennies on the dollar.
