49ers' Top Players to Prioritize in 2023 NFL Free Agency

The San Francisco 49ers must be prepared to lose a few starters when free agency begins.

The NFC West side could be priced out of the sweepstakes for offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and others.

San Francisco will have to find some cheaper alternatives on the free-agent market if both players leave for larger contracts elsewhere in the NFL.

The list of free-agent targets on the offensive line and at linebacker need to fit the 49ers' system, and they can't be too expensive.

One way to approach the offensive line is to look at someone like Donovan Smith, whose contract demands may be lower than in previous years because of the season he just had with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 49ers could find some value at linebacker to partner with Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. They need to improve their depth in the front seven, but they can't pay huge salaries since seven players are scheduled to make over $12 million next season, per Spotrac.

Donovan Smith

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TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 05: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Tackle Donovan Smith (76) pass blocks during the regular season game between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 05, 2022 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Donovan Smith enters free agency after committing 12 penalties last season for the Buccaneers.

The 2022 campaign was not the best for the 29-year-old, but that may play to the benefit of the 49ers.

San Francisco may not be able to re-sign McGlinchey, or go after the other premier free-agent offensive tackle Kaleb McGary.

The 49ers only have $7 million within the salary cap to work with at the moment, per Spotrac. That could change in the coming days with restructured deals and other mechanisms to open up more money.

They still won't be able to chase the top free agents, so they will have to find the right fits with lower-valued players, or take a risk on someone like Smith who is coming off a down season.

The priority at the start of free agency should be to find a McGlinchey replacement, so that the 49ers can approach other areas of need in the NFL draft.

Adding a veteran tackle to partner Trent Williams is imperative with a young quarterback in the pocket in 2023, whether it be Brock Purdy or Trey Lance.

Andrew Wylie

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GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 12: Andrew Wylie #77 of the Kansas City Chiefs gets set against the Philadelphia Eagles after Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. The Chiefs defeated the Eagles 38-35. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Andrew Wylie could be the ideal value signing at offensive tackle.

The 28-year-old is not in the top tier of offensive tackle free agents, such as Orlando Brown, Kaleb McGary and Mike McGlinchey.

Those three players might be off the market early in free agency because of how wanted they could be by other teams with offensive-line needs.

The 49ers could lock in on Wylie to fill their right tackle void at an inexpensive price.

This is a team that might have to cut corners in some spots of free agency because of the seven players making over $12 million next season and a potential Nick Bosa extension down the line.

Wylie spent the last five seasons protecting Patrick Mahomes from a variety of positions. His versatility on the interior at both guard spots and right tackle could also be beneficial to the 49ers depending on which other players they bring in.

Drue Tranquill

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 14: Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Drue Tranquill (49) during the game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Jacksonville Jaguars on January 14, 2023 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Drue Tranquill was a tackling machine in his four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers.

The 27-year-old linebacker produced at least 75 tackles in three of his first four NFL campaigns, and he is coming off a career year with 146 tackles.

Tranquill's nose for the ball would be a terrific asset for the 49ers alongside Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw at linebacker.

The 49ers could be priced out of the market for Al-Shaair because of his performances over the last two seasons.

San Francisco needs to fill that void in the offseason, and Tranquill is the perfect type of player to plug into a star-studded front seven.

The 49ers could also look to the draft to bring in a young player who can develop behind Warner and Greenlaw, but they should at least look at Tranquill and others to fill that void with experience first.