Feb. 3, 2026, 7:45 a.m. PT

The San Francisco 49ers have roughly 30 players hitting some form of free agency this offseason, which could completely change the outlook of this team going into the 2026 season.

Among those 49ers set to hit the market is left guard Ben Bartch, who will be unrestricted when the new league year starts in March.

As we work our way through San Francisco’s pending free agents, let’s examine the decision John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan will have to make on Bartch in the coming weeks.

Ben Bartch 2025 season recap

The 2025 season was Bartch’s third year with the 49ers and the first where he was supposed to be the starting left guard at the start of the year. However, due to multiple injuries, the 27-year-old appeared in just six games and started two of them. Pro Football Focus gave Bartch a 71.7 overall grade, 69.7 run-blocking grade and 65.4 pass-blocking grade.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Potential replacements for Ben Bartch

With Spencer Burford also hitting free agency, San Francisco’s best option on the roster at left guard right now is 2025 seventh-round pick Connor Colby, who looked overmatches in his opportunities as a rookie.

In free agency, the 49ers could consider an aging veteran like Kevin Zeitler as a short-term option, or 27-year-old Ed Ingram if they want someone to be around for a few years. It’s also just as likely that San Francisco addresses the position in the draft with a Day 2 or early Day 3 pick.

What contract could Ben Bartch receive as a free agent?

Bartch played the 2025 season on a $1.34 million extension and after playing just nine games over the last, it doesn’t seem likely that he’ll receive that much more this offseason. Expect him to make roughly $2 million per year.

Should the 49ers re-sign Ben Bartch?

San Francisco needs a starting left guard that they can rely on, and that hasn’t been Bartch to this point. If they want to bring him back to compete for a spot, that’s fine, but he shouldn’t be their only hope for the starting role.

Ideally, Lynch, Shanahan and the scouting department find a prospect that they fall in love with during the draft process and take him to hold down the position for at least the next four years.

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