Kyle Shanahan couldn’t hide his excitement about bringing Robert Saleh back as his defensive coordinator. And honestly, it makes sense. They’ve been through this before, all the way back in 2017, trying to rebuild the San Francisco 49ers‘ defensive front from the ground up. Sure, the first attempt didn’t land quite right. Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster didn’t live up to the hype, and things got messy. But they didn’t just move on; they learned. A couple of years later, that line turned into a monster with Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, and Dee Ford, leading the charge. Shanahan still calls it “one of the best D-lines in the history of football.” And now? He’s hoping to run it back, this time with more experience, more lessons, and way more fire. Hence, Brock Purdy’s team might be adding a new member to their defense soon.
According to NFL Network’s Jeffri Chadiha, free agent CB Asante Samuel Jr. might come as a best fit for Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers. For context, the franchise has been quietly reshaping its cornerback room. They lost a few key names on the defense. But the HC and DC Saleh didn’t just sit back. They brought in Tre Brown during free agency, and in the third round of the draft, they grabbed Upton Stout – clearly with the intention of plugging him in at nickel right away. That pick says a lot. It shows Brock Purdy’s team is not waiting around when it comes to filling that spot. They’ve also got Darrell Luter Jr. and Tre Tomlinson in the mix from before. And now, the buzz around Samuel Jr. is heating up.
But why would Jim Harbaugh’s rejected Samuel Jr. be a great fit for the 49ers? As per Chadiha, there are two reasons behind it: “One is that he’s likely to be available at a very affordable price now that the draft has passed. The other is that the 49ers are thin at cornerback — they lost Charvarius Ward, Rock Ya-Sin, and Isaac Yiadom from last year’s team — and play a zone-heavy system that could allow Samuel to flourish.”
NFL Network’s Jeffri Chadiha lists FA CB Asante Samuel Jr. as a best fit for the 49ers:
“San Francisco makes sense for Samuel for two reasons. One is that he’s likely to be available at a very affordable price now that the draft has passed. The other is that the 49ers are thin… pic.twitter.com/714fJjMjpH
— Coach Yac (@Coach_Yac) May 7, 2025
However, there are some demerits with the player, too. The reporter highlighted, “The big knocks on Samuel after his four seasons with the Chargers were his tackling and lack of consistency in press coverage. He also dealt with a lingering neck/shoulder injury that limited him to four games last season (and continued to dog him earlier this offseason). If the 49ers could land Samuel on a one-year, prove-it deal, he might flourish under defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and create a chance for a massive long-term deal. Samuel is only 25 and one of the best remaining free agents on the market. This could be a win-win for both sides.”
Samuel Jr. has racked up 176 tackles, six interceptions, and 37 pass breakups since entering the league in 2021. But, on the other side of the story, given his injury, he might not line up well. He’s still recovering from injury and isn’t exactly known for being tough against the run. And if you’ve been paying attention, every defender San Francisco has added this offseason has one thing in common – they bring the heat in the run game. So, it would be quite interesting to note whether Shanahan adds this free agent to his defense or not. Until then, the offense is also suggested with a new name to add this time for Brock Purdy.
Brock Purdy could get a new receiver?
Brock Purdy’s 49ers’ receiver room has been through a shakeup this offseason. With Deebo Samuel gone, they’re banking on Brandon Aiyuk, who is bouncing back from his knee injury. In addition, Jauan Jennings is staying steady, and Rickey Pearsall is coming to play his first full season after the g—— wound incident. Furthermore, the Santa Clara team has brought in Demarcus Robinson and drafted Jordan Watkins, but now there’s buzz about Gabe Davis.
Davis is hitting the market after a short, injury-hit run with the Jaguars. Former Niner Jon Feliciano, who knows both Davis and this offense, called Gabe a perfect fit for Brock Purdy’s team. After all, Davis brings size, physicality, and deep-ball ability, everything that could complement Purdy’s downfield push.
But here’s the thing: he’s coming off a torn meniscus, and that’s a big red flag for a team already waiting on Aiyuk’s full return. If they signed him, he’d likely start on the PUP list, and that could mean bumping someone else off the roster. With young talent already in place and limited spots to go around, adding another injured wideout for Brock Purdy just doesn’t seem like a move they’ll make. However, the decision is on the staff and the front office.
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