The 2019 offseason is the most important yet for head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch. How they navigate free agency will play an essential role in how they operate in the draft, and how quickly they can turn their 4-12 team into a bonafide contender.

The 49ers will have 12 players set to hit the free-agent market. They have seven unrestricted, two restricted, and two exclusive rights free agents. Our friends over at the Colts Wire have a thorough breakdown of each type of free agent. We’ll hit the key points as we go through the 49ers’ free-agents-to-be.

Unrestricted free agents

RB Alfred Morris
G Mike Person
DB Jimmie Ward
FS Antone Exum Jr.
LB Mark Nzeocha
LS Kyle Nelson
K Robbie Gould
P Bradley Pinion

This is the easiest free agent type. UFAs are free to sign wherever they’d like. The 49ers can make offers to these players, but they’re under no obligation to re-sign with San Francisco.

Restricted free agent

RB Raheem Mostert
DB Tyvis Powell

Restricted free agents are a little trickier. The 49ers can place either a first, second or third-round tender, or choose right of first refusal. Essentially the player’s previous team has some say in how much negotiating power the player has on the open market. A restricted free agent becomes unrestricted if the team opts to forego or rescinds a tender.

Exclusive rights free agent

LB Elijah Lee
CB Greg Mabin

ERFAs have less freedom than RFAs since a team can place an exclusive rights tender on the player and eliminate their ability to negotiate elsewhere.