The upcoming offseason will bring a great deal of change to the 49ers organization. It's unclear just how drastic the changes will be, but it's likely that next year's team will look very different from the team that takes the field against the Cardinals on December 28.
Jim Harbaugh will not be back - that much is abundantly clear. Running Back Frank Gore, San Francisco's workhorse for the last decade, will be a free agent, as will WR Michael Crabtree, LG Mike Iupati, and several other key contributors. Here's the full list of free agents, per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury-News:
Unrestricted:
RB Frank Gore
WR Michael Crabtree
LG Mike Iupati
CB Perrish Cox
CB Chris Culliver
LB Dan Skuta
S Bubba Ventrone
CB Chris Cook
QB Blaine Gabbert
QB Josh Johnson
WR Brandon Lloyd
WR Kassim Osgood
RB Alfonso Smith
RB Phillip Tanner
LB Desmond Bishop
Restricted:
TE Garrett Celek
LS Kyle Nelson
Exclusive rights free agent:
DE Tony Jerod-Eddie
LB Michael Wilhoite
The 49ers tried to sign Crabtree and Iupati to extensions this past summer, but were unable to reach an agreement with either player. Crabtree has had a disappointing 2014, failing to reach the 100-yard mark in a game this season and only scoring four touchdowns in total. Iupati, who played well this season, is likely to receive a massive contract that would place him among the highest-earning offensive linemen in the NFL, and the 49ers are expected to promote Brandon Thomas, their 2013 fourth-round draft pick, to replace him.
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