San Francisco

49ers

This is encouraging, though Shanahan added that he doesn’t want to say Kittle is “on track” to play, but he knows Kittle is “shooting for” a Week 1 return. One month ago, 49ers general manager John Lynch said he is “hopeful” that Kittle will be able to play in Week 1. It sounds like Kittle should return early in the 2026 season, even if Week 1 is out of reach. If they start him on the physically unable to perform list, he could return in Week 5. For the time being, it feels safe to say that he should be back by Week 5 or sooner. Anything can happen, though.

The 49ers are currently sitting on Aiyuk’s contract, which now has all of its future guarantees voided. They have reportedly been looking for a trade partner, though there’s no chance a team trades for a player whom the 49ers GM John Lynch himself has said is done with the team. Aiyuk is currently on the reserve/left squad list, meaning the 49ers don’t have to pay him anything right now. He could force their hand by showing up to OTAs. In Barrows’ cutting words, “Maybe Aiyuk’s most effective move is something he failed to do last season — show up for work.” Assuming he does that, the 49ers will release him, at which point he would be likely to sign with the Commanders, if previous reports are to be believed.

McCormick spent time with the organization in 2025, starting the regular season on their practice squad. He did not play a snap for them before bouncing around to three other teams’ practice squads to end the season. He joins Jordan James, Kaelon Black, and Isaac Guerendo behind starter Christian McCaffrey.

Eason got a sixth year of eligibility with Tennessee because of the 2020 pandemic and a redshirt 2021 season in 2025, and he was able to procure 31 tackles with 4.5 of those coming for loss. The 6-foot-2, 323-pound is literally built to be a run stuffer, and he showed at times the ability to split double teams with more quickness than you’d expect from a player of his size. He also showed to be a step slow at times, with very little success at winning his reps as a pass-rusher. Eason seems more likely than not to be a two-down player, and one who likely will be on a roster bubble barring something unforeseen. The 49ers also signed Notre Dame WR Will Pauling, Notre Dame S Jalen Stroman and Illinois DT James Thompson.

Dinkins (6’4/251) is a plus athlete with explosiveness out of his strides. His four years at Penn State show a low volume of work, with a 2025 line of 14/167/2 being his career best. Despite low receiving production, Dinkins’ athletic traits give him consideration for the NFL level. He displayed burst with a 4.33 20-yard shuttle, completing every drill at the NFL combine. A bulky frame allows Dinkins to be a physical blocker. The sample size is too small for him to be considered an immediate impact receiver. However, a strong blocking profile and burst that can be developed are traits teams late in the draft can hope to get from Dinkins.

Kamara (6’1/250) spent four years under Curt Cignetti at James Madison and then followed his coach to Indiana. He started two seasons for the Hoosiers, racking up 10 sacks in 2024 with just two in his final season. Kamara led the country with 68 pressures in 2024. He fell to 59 in 2025 despite playing in three extra games, though that still ranked top-10 in the FBS. Kamara doesn’t have the size or length to be a full-time player in the pros, but his body of work at Indiana, particularly the 2024 campaign, speaks for itself. He missed double-digit games at JMU with various injuries, so his health will also be a concern in the pros.

The 49ers have already made it abundantly clear that Aiyuk will not be playing for them moving forward after a saga that included the team removing his guaranteed money for not showing up to rehab sessions. Rapoport added that the Commanders have had continued interest in the veteran wide receiver but have been hesitant to discuss trade talks under the assumption that the 49ers will be releasing Aiyuk, bringing us to the stalemate at hand. Either way, Rapoport believes Aiyuk will be playing the 2027 season in Washington.

Cruz Jr. (6’5/313) possesses rare athleticism, posting a near-perfect 9.99 RAS backed by a blazing 4.94 40 (98th percentile) and an explosive 35” vertical (99th percentile). Cruz logged over 1,800 career snaps with experience at both tackle and guard, turning in an adequate 2025 campaign with a 70.3 overall grade and 67.3 pass-block grade, allowing two sacks and 16 pressures on 354 pass-blocking snaps. He flashes heavy hands and upper-body power, capable of jolting defenders off-balance when he lands cleanly while using his length to control rushers once engaged. Despite the elite testing profile, Cruz’s functional athleticism is more linear than twitchy, as tight hips and average redirection ability show up against inside counters and movement-heavy fronts. With size, length and rare athletic upside, Cruz profiles as a ‘tweener outside/interior lineman with traits worth betting on in a zone-based system, though refinement is needed for him to stick long-term.

Dugger (6'4"/240) is a fourth-year prospect who started his career at Georgetown before transferring to Louisiana in 2024. Duggar earned First-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors last season, tallying 125 tackles, 13 TFLs, and four sacks while also forcing one interception. Duggar is a good athlete, but is still learning the position after switching from safety to linebacker after transferring to Louisiana. He’s a developmental project who will likely get his start on special teams with hopes of eventually working his way into a key defensive role in a few seasons.

He will join a 49ers coverage unit that last year allowed the seventh highest drop back EPA in the NFL. Prysock (6’3/196) brings rare size-length traits to the boundary at (6’2/196) with a 9.74 RAS, pairing 33+ inch arms and notable agility (8.26 shuttle, 8.90 3-cone). Across 447 coverage snaps, he allowed just 22 receptions on 54 targets (40.7%) for 218 yards, holding quarterbacks to a 17.4 passer rating with a stingy 0.49 yards per coverage snap. His 16.7% forced incompletion rate and eight PBUs highlight his ability to disrupt at the catch point, though he surrendered three explosive receptions and two touchdowns when technique lapsed. Prysock added 50 tackles with an 87.7% tackle rate and nine havoc plays, flashing functional physicality despite a leaner frame.