Jan. 27, 2026, 7:45 p.m. PT<\/p>\n
The San Francisco 49ers<\/a> are onto 2026, after going 12-5 in 2025 and eventually falling to the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks<\/a> in the divisional round at Lumen Field.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Among those free agents is wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. Let’s examine this upcoming decision for San Francisco.<\/p>\n Kendrick Bourne 2025 season recap<\/p>\n The New England Patriots released Bourne before Week 1, allowing him to return to the 49ers<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a>Potential replacements for Kendrick Bourne<\/p>\n With San Francisco possibly losing Bourne, Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk and Skyy Moore, there’s not much for replacements on the roster currently.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n What free agency contract could Kendrick Bourne get?<\/p>\n 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.<\/a><\/p>\n Should the 49ers re-sign Kendrick Bourne?<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n