General manager John Lynch on Wednesday said the team planned to release veteran defensive tackle Javon Hargrave with that designation. He did not say the same for Samuel, who is a popular trade candidate in pre-offseason speculation.

Samuel, who will enter the 2025 NFL campaign on the final season of his three-year contract extension he signed in 2022, could be a candidate to get cut if the 49ers are looking to free up some cap space this offseason. But San Francisco general manager John Lynch poured cold water on that theory when speaking to the media Wednesday.

The San Francisco 49ers have some work to do on their roster this offseason to return to Super Bowl contention. That work would get significantly more difficult if 36-year-old All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams opted to hang up his pads and retire after an