Players the 49ers Should Trade, Release or Let Walk

Better to get rid of a player a year too soon rather than a year too late.

Bill Walsh used to say a team should get rid of a player a year too soon rather than a year too late.

Here are eight players the 49ers should get rid of this offseason.

1. Kyle Juszczyk.

He has been an excellent fullback for the 49ers the past seven seasons, but he'll be 33 next season, he'll cost the team more than $7 million and he hardly touches the ball. Last season he touched the ball 19 times in 17 games. And he's not a dominant blocker anymore. They're paying him a ton of money to go in motion before the snap. They should release him.

2. George Kittle.

He's still a good tight end, but he's 30, he's slowly declining and he'll cost the 49ers almost $22 million next season. Plus he hauled in just two passes for four yards in the Super Bowl and was caught on camera saying, "Hi George," to George Karlaftis midplay right before Karlaftis recovered Christian McCaffrey's fumble. It's impossible to look at Kittle's face and not think about that fateful play. They should trade him to Buffalo.

3. Deebo Samuel.

He's still extremely difficult to tackle, but he'll be 29 next season, he doesn't play running back much anymore, he can't beat man-to-man coverage and he'll cost the 49ers more than $28 million next season. He's the most expensive screen specialist in the league. I'd trade him for an offensive lineman.

4. Chase Young.

The 49ers traded a third-round pick for him at the deadline, he's only 24 and he had a sack in the Super Bowl. But he's a free agent, he doesn't play hard and his poor effort is contagious. He's a bad influence. They should let some other team sign him.

5. Arik Armstead.

He's still an outstanding run defender when healthy, but he missed five games with plantar fasciitis this past season and eight games with the same injury in 2022. That injury probably isn't going away, plus he has a torn meniscus, he's 30 and he'll cost the 49ers more than $28 million next season. I'd trade him to any team that's willing to take on his outrageous contract.

6. Jake Moody.

He missed a kick in each of the 49ers' three playoff games. I'd release him. Let him be someone else's headache.

7. Ray Ray McCloud.

He's a solid punt returner, but he's a free agent and in the Super Bowl he tried to scoop and run with a loose ball instead of simply falling on it, and the Chiefs recovered and scored a touchdown. I'd let him leave.

8. Jon Feliciano.

He was the 49ers' best right guard this season, but he's a free agent and after the Super Bowl he publicly threw backup right guard Spencer Burford under the bus on Twitter. I would not re-sign Feliciano. He's a mediocre player and a bad teammate.