For the San Francisco 49ers, overhauling a struggling pass rush will be crucial to offseason success. That’s part of the reason why restricted free agent Sam Okuayinonu poses some problems for 49ers general manager John Lynch.
Okuainonu’s restricted free agency means the 49ers will have the opportunity to make one of three RFA tenders to him. If they do, he would have the opportunity to explore the market to sign an offer sheet with another team, and then the 49ers would have a chance to match that offer sheet. If they don’t use the RFA tender, he will become an unrestricted free agent.
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Okuainonu has become a key part of the 49ers defensive end rotation, but that’s largely out of necessity as the 49ers dealt with some injuries the past two years. A real question is whether the 49ers should bring him back or if it’s time to cut ties with him and bring in some new talent on defense.
Here’s a quick look at Okuainonu’s restricted free agency.
Sam Okuayinonu 2025 Season Review
The 2025 season will look a lot like the 2024 season for Okuainonu. He started 12 of the 15 games he played in and again posted 3.0 sacks. He also had six tackles and seven quarterback hits, matching his numbers from the 2024 season, when he started three of 16 games. The biggest difference between the two years for the 27-year-old has been his steals. He played 575 snaps in 2025, easily surpassing his career-high of 450 a season ago.
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Potential replacements for Sam Okuanonu
The 49ers will not directly replace Okuainonu because he is a depth player in an ideal situation. If they do go in a different direction, we’ll likely see his role taken up by a draft pick or a lower-level free agent like Clelin Ferrell. If San Francisco doesn’t re-sign Okuainonu, they won’t spend the fortune to replace him.
What contract will Sam Okuayinu get as a free agent?
It’s hard to imagine the 49ers giving Okuainonu a free agent contract. According to Over the Cap, the right of first refusal bid amounted to $3,520,000. If the 49ers bring Okuainonu back, it will likely be on a one-year deal at a cheaper rate. If they believe the former undrafted free agent will develop more, they could consider a two-year contract worth $8 million with a small amount of guaranteed money.
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Should the 49ers re-sign Sam Okuayinonu?
Ideally, the 49ers should have Okuainonu as a depth rotation player or an interior depth player on their practice squad. His per-possession efficiency is down in 2025, but it’s easy to see his offensive efficiency increase if he plays a more limited role in better spacing on the defensive end. Okuayinonu is a nice find in San Francisco and worth bringing back if the price is right.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers free agency: DE Sam Okuayinonu is restricted FA question mark
