With just days left to go before the Super Bowl 60 showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium, the San Francisco 49ers have already started their offseason.
While there may still be some coaching changes to make in the coming days and weeks, 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan will also have to decide which of their 30 pending free agents should come back for 2026.
Among that large group of players set to hit the market is offensive lineman Spencer Burford. Let's examine the choice Lynch and Shanahan will have to make on Burford.
Spencer Burford 2025 season recap
Burford entered the 2025 season as San Francisco's top backup offensive lineman, but with Ben Bartch out with injury and Connor Colby struggling to fill in, Burford took over as the team's starting left guard from Week 9 on. He allowed 21 pressures in 266 pass-blocking snaps and earned a 58.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which was good for 49th out of 81 qualified guards.
Potential replacements for Spencer Burford
With Bartch also hitting the market, the 49ers' top internal options to start at left guard are Colby and Nick Zakelj. Neither of those options are all that enticing.
If the 49ers are looking outside the building for a starter, Kevin Zeitler and Ed Ingram could be fits in free agency. However, they may be better off looking to the draft.
What contract could Spencer Burford receive as a free agent?
Burford made $2.28 in 2025 on a reworked final year of his rookie deal. After starting 29 games over the last four seasons, Spotrac projects that the 25-year-old will receive a one-year, $3.39 million contract this offseason.
Should the 49ers re-sign Spencer Burford?
Signing Burford to be their starting left guard in 2026 doesn't make much sense, but if they're looking to bring him back as a backup, that's more reasonable. In his four years in the league, Burford has played every spot along the line other than center. That versatility could be useful at the right price. Still, San Francisco should try to upgrade through the draft if they can.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Should 49ers bring back Spencer Burford in free agency?