3 Free Agents the 49ers Need to Sign to Win the Super Bowl Next Season

A problem that had been bothering the San Francisco 49ers all season ended up costing them a true chance at competing for a spot in the Super Bowl. The 49ers couldn't keep up with the Philadelphia Eagles after rookie Brock Purdy was the latest starting quarterback to go down with a brutal injury.

It's going to take some time for coaches, players and fans alike to get over the 31-7 defeat, but it is time to start looking ahead to the offseason. San Francisco has been on the cusp of making it to the big game time and time again. Adding a few key playmakers to the mix could make all the difference.

With that in mind, here's a look at three free agents the 49ers need to sign to win it all in 2023.

San Francisco 49ers Free Agency

1. Tom Brady, QB

The 49ers' quarterback situation is going to be one of the most talked about NFL storylines of the offseason. Veteran Jimmy Garoppolo is set to enter free agency, leaving the team with Purdy and Trey Lance. Purdy lacks experience and Lance has shown little upside in three injury-riddled seasons. Neither one is a perfect option for a contending team. Coupling a trade of Lance with a signing of Tom Brady would prove San Francisco is not messing around. Brady finished third in the NFL in passing yards (4,694) and completed 66.8% of his pass attempts this past season. As a seven-time Super Bowl champion, the 45-year-old QB knows what it takes to bring home a Lombardi Trophy.

2. Patrick Peterson, CB

The 49ers are in a positive situation when it comes to their salary cap in 2023, but signing Brady would be a move that costs a ton of money. It makes searching for underrated free agent options a sound strategy for the front office. While Patrick Peterson may be past his prime, he proved in 2022 that he is still a shutdown cornerback. The three-time All-Pro tallied 15 pass breakups and 5 interceptions, which were his best marks in a decade. He also finished with the fourth-best coverage grade in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. Peterson would be a great addition to a San Francisco secondary that ranked right in the middle of the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (217.2).

3. Matt Gay, K

There aren't many holes on San Francisco's roster. Starting kicker Robbie Gould is set to enter free agency, though, which does leave a gap at the position. It'd be smart for the 49ers to look toward the future by signing a younger kicker rather than bringing back Gould on a short-term deal. Matt Gay would be a top option in that scenario after he nailed 28 of his 30 field goals this past season, with both misses coming from 50 or more yards. He is only 28 years old and owns a stellar 87.8% field goal percentage in 57 games played. Stealing him away from a divisional rival in the Los Angeles Rams would be an added bonus, too.

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. 

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