‘WTF Are the Niners Doing?’ — Former NFL LB Rips 49ers GM John Lynch, HC Kyle Shanahan for Roster Overhaul

With free agency underway, former NFL linebacker and current Fox Sports analyst Emmanuel Acho is questioning the San Francisco 49ers’ decisions.

On X, he posted a 44-second rant discussing their period thus far, which includes linebacker Dre Greenlaw agreeing to terms with the Denver Broncos, cornerback Charvarius Ward agreeing to terms with the Indianapolis Colts, wide receiver Deebo Samuel being traded to the Washington Commanders, and more.

Emmanuel Acho’s San Francisco 49ers Rant

The video starts with Acho appearing to almost massage his temples, blinking multiple times, and abruptly blurts out, “What are the Niners [San Francisco 49ers] doing?”

“Wh-what? I’m in here minding my business, and they decided to completely rebuild the roster just on a whim. I get it. I get it. You trade Deebo, fine, you drafted [Ricky] Pearsall last year in the first round, but I’m confused,” he continued.

“Because now we got rid of Juice [fullback Kyle Juszczyk], we got rid of [Aaron] Banks, we got rid of Ward, we got rid of Greenlaw, we got rid of [Talanoa] Hufanga, who we gonna sign?” Acho explained that he, like many 49ers fans, could not make sense of the early free-agency moves.

“You want Fred Warner to tackle and catch and play fullback? What we doin’ [Kyle] Shanahan? What we doin’ [John] Lynch? I’m confused. Somebody unconfuse me because I am confused.”

Examining Acho’s Concerns

First, quarterback Brock Purdy is coming up for an extension. He’s on the last year of his Mr. Irrelevant deal, with a cap hit of a mere $5.3 million and change.

He’ll be up for an extension, perhaps around $50 million annually, which will require a lot of funds.

While it may feel like a mass exodus from the 49ers, all of these moves make some sense. Lynch appears to be trying to create a younger San Francisco squad for 2025 and beyond.

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Greenlaw played just 34 snaps last season and received a three-year $35 million deal from the Broncos. Perhaps the 49ers did not want to take this risk. Samuel requested a trade. Juszczyk is almost 34 years old and has nearly a $7 million cap hit.

Ward’s season was tough due to the passing of his child, and he expressed that he would likely not return because of the reminder. Hufanga is also coming off an injury, and Aaron Banks signed a massive $77 million deal with the Green Bay Packers.

Now, they have 10 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft and will almost certainly receive future compensatory picks for these players who go elsewhere.

It may feel like a lot right now for 49ers fans, but in the long run, assuming they do well in the draft, this will all be a distant memory.