Jan. 27, 2026, 7:45 p.m. PT
The San Francisco 49ers are onto 2026, after going 12-5 in 2025 and eventually falling to the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round at Lumen Field.
While general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan will have a lot to think about in the coming weeks, one of their most important decisions will be whether or not they re-sign their pending free agents.
Among those free agents is wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. Let’s examine this upcoming decision for San Francisco.
Kendrick Bourne 2025 season recap
The New England Patriots released Bourne before Week 1, allowing him to return to the 49ers, the team that brought him into the NFL in 2017. He went on to catch 37 passes for 551 yards, which includes back-to-back 142-yard performances in Weeks 5 and 6.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Potential replacements for Kendrick Bourne
With San Francisco possibly losing Bourne, Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk and Skyy Moore, there’s not much for replacements on the roster currently.
There are, however, free agents that could be enticing for the 49ers, including George Pickens, Alec Pierce, Romeo Doubs and Rashid Shaheed. As well as a slew of prospects that San Francisco could take in the 2026 NFL draft.
What free agency contract could Kendrick Bourne get?
After playing on a 1-year, $1.7 million deal in 2026 that included several incentives, Bourne is projected to receive a 1-year, $3.25 million contract this offseason, according to Spotrac.
Should the 49ers re-sign Kendrick Bourne?
San Francisco’s wide receiver room may not be that deep, but Bourne was too inconsistent in 2025 to warrant a spot on the roster next year. The 49ers should look to upgrade the room in whatever ways they can.
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