The San Francisco 49ers’ 2025 offseason made it clear what direction the franchise plans to take in the coming years. Brock Purdy’s five-year extension sent a strong message that he is the offensive cornerstone around whom Kyle Shanahan and the coaching staff will continue to build.
This likely means the team will shift away from its previous model and begin to get younger and cheaper at the skill positions in order to ease salary cap pressure in the coming seasons. It’s still early, but looking ahead to the next draft, San Francisco is expected to focus on offense once again, and a newly arrived wide receiver at LSU could emerge as a target for 2026.
49ers Predicted To Pick WR Barion Brown in 2026 NFL Draft
Over the first three years of Purdy’s rookie deal, the 49ers featured one of the most expensive offenses in the NFL. Entering last season, the team had two wide receivers earning over $20 million annually, one of the league’s highest-paid tight ends, and the top-paid running back, all in an effort to capitalize on having the league’s cheapest starting quarterback contract.
But the reality has now shifted in San Francisco, with Purdy becoming the team’s highest-paid player, forcing the front office to make changes. Deebo Samuel was the first to go, and if Brandon Aiyuk underperforms again in 2025, he could be next. That sets the stage for a youth movement, and one name to watch in next year’s draft is Barion Brown.
Barion Brown is going to be so fun to watch with Garrett Nussmeier https://t.co/0ioTJn1msJ pic.twitter.com/WqibM4o64T
— Hail Mary Sports (@hailmarysportss) May 23, 2025
Brown spent his first three college seasons at Kentucky, making a name for himself with his speed, versatility, and explosiveness in the return game, an area where San Francisco has struggled in recent years. In PFSN’s latest three-round mock draft, the 49ers select Brown at No. 57 overall, though that value could change depending on his senior season.
In 2025, Brown transferred to LSU to face tougher competition. The move brings a steeper learning curve, increased internal competition, and a more complex scheme, but it could also highlight his strengths and boost his draft stock. He needs better production this year to improve his record of 13 total touchdowns in three years and become a safer option for teams to draft.
In Shanahan’s offense, Brown could bring back some of what was lost with Samuel’s departure, a physically gifted, versatile weapon who thrives in open space without needing elite route-running polish. His value on special teams would also be a welcome bonus for San Francisco.
For Purdy, the younger the weapons, the better. He enters 2025 with Ricky Pearsall coming off a full offseason, Jauan Jennings likely serving as his primary target early on, and the team waiting to see how Aiyuk performs. George Kittle remains his top red zone threat, and that role should remain unchanged.
Brown’s smaller frame may limit his appeal to certain teams and systems, but Shanahan could be the ideal coach to unlock his potential and shape him into a dangerous playmaker within San Francisco’s scheme.