3 Free Agents the 49ers Might Need to Sign in Training Camp
There are a few questionable positions on the San Francisco 49ers that they're hoping will pan out for them during training camp, like safety.
It's a gamble for a team with playoff aspirations, but they have to see if a player can step up. However, there's a chance they never get that and realize they need help as training camp plays out.
Should that happen, the 49ers will need to look outside of the building, which means they'll dabble in free agency. Three free agents stand out the most as players the 49ers might need to sign.
Joey Bosa
Joey Bosa is the most obvious one. He's been linked to the 49ers since the offseason began, thanks to his brother, Nick Bosa, being on the team.
The 49ers haven't signed him yet due to his insanely high price. It isn't worth it, especially since he's past his prime and has injury concerns.
Yet, if the 49ers dislike what they see out of rookie Romello Height and other defensive ends during training camp, they'll feel like they have no choice but to sign Bosa, despite his high cost.
He'll instantly fill a need and provide the 49ers with some comfort at the position. But it's all contingent on Height and others being underwhelming.
Najee Harris
The 49ers have placed all of their chips on rookie Kaelon Black and Jordan James to back up Christian McCaffrey. It's a bold move, especially since Kyle Shanahan doesn't trust young players.
He's quick to move on from them if they fail to impress during training camp. If Black and James are performing up to par, then you can fully expect the 49ers to add a running back in free agency.
Najee Harris would be the immediate one that will come to mind. He should come at a cheap cost, given he's coming off a torn Achilles and that he's been a free agent for months.
The 49ers could also trade for a running back, similar to what they did last year with Brian Robinson Jr. Everything is on the table, but for free agents, Harris is the likeliest they'd sign.
Harrison Smith
This one is a wild card, as Harrison Smith could be retired by the time training camp kicks off. It's unclear what he'll do, but if he doesn't, he'll be a top contingency for the 49ers.
The safety position is arguably their weakest. If it turns out that they have no faith in the players they have there as training camp and the preseason go on, they'll need to look outside the building.
They cannot settle for what they have at safety if no one is proving capable of stepping up. Signing Smith would be a no-brainer. He'll instantly be their best player at the position, even at 37 years old.
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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM.