An offseason of significant change looms for the San Francisco 49ers, particularly if their late-season playoff push falls short.
Despite returning to the win column with a victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, the 49ers’ playoff odds continued to decline due to wins by division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. After falling short in last year’s Super Bowl, their third loss in 12 years, it appears unlikely that San Francisco will make it back to the playoffs to seek redemption.
Once the season concludes, the 49ers face a slew of difficult roster decisions. Chief among them is quarterback Brock Purdy, who is eligible for his first contract extension. A big deal for Purdy could potentially consume all of the team’s cap space in one fell swoop.
Another critical decision revolves around starting left guard Aaron Banks. In his fourth season, Banks has enjoyed a breakout year, making him a prime candidate to leave in free agency as the 49ers’ payroll tightens. If he does depart, the team will be hoping he doesn’t land with a division rival they face twice each season.
Matt Holder of Bleacher Report predicted Banks could end up signing with the Arizona Cardinals, who are looking to become serious contenders in the NFC West after ceding the division title to the 49ers and Rams for much of the last decade.
“Arizona has several impending free agents on the interior offensive line, including starting guards Will Hernandez and Evan Brown, as well as Trystan Colon, who has been filling in for Hernandez following his injury,” Holder noted.
“Meanwhile, Banks is having the best season of his career, earning a 71.3 run-blocking grade and allowing just 22 pressures (one sack) in 10 games, according to Pro Football Focus. Signing Banks would also be a strategic move to weaken a division rival.”
At 27 years old, Banks has developed into a reliable force on the offensive line during his four seasons with his hometown team. While he may feel comfortable in the Bay Area, he will undoubtedly seek a significant pay raise from the $7 million rookie deal he signed in 2021.
With so many of their top stars already locked into long-term contracts, the 49ers are in a difficult position. If they’re unwilling to meet Banks’ market value, the prospect of him joining a division rival like Arizona could spell trouble for San Francisco in the years to come.
