Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Abbie Parr/Associated Press
The San Francisco 49ers have said so long to their swing tackle.
Jaylon Moore, 27, reportedly agreed to terms with the Chiefs on Monday on a two-year, $30 million contract that included $21.24 million fully guaranteed. Moore, a 2021 fifth-round pick, made 12 starts in his four seasons with the 49ers, including five last year when All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams was sidelined with an ankle injury.
Moore set up himself for Monday’s payday by allowing just one sack while replacing Williams, but his performance earned him only lukewarm reviews from offensive line coach Chris Foerster in December.
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“He’s done a good job,” Foerster said. “There’s a lot of things he can still work on to be better. Starting consistently week after week becomes an issue — as always. They start getting a book on you, things you’re doing that you need to fix and work on to get better.”
Instead of paying big bucks for Moore, the 49ers will likely use a high-end draft pick on an offensive tackle who could compete with right tackle Colton McKivitz for a starting spot in 2025 and serve as an heir apparent to Williams, who will turn 37 in July.
Bank for Banks: Moore wasn’t the only 49ers offensive linemen to cash in: Guard Aaron Banks reportedly agreed to terms with the Packers on a four-year, $77 million deal after serving as a starter the past three seasons.
The 49ers prepared for Banks’ departure last season by using a third-round pick on Dominick Puni, who started 17 games as a rookie. Last month, they re-signed backup guard Ben Bartch, who could compete with a 2025 draft pick for a starting spot this season.
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Banks, a 2021 second-round pick, is one just two offensive linemen the 49ers have taken with a first- or second-round selection in the eight drafts overseen by general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Last season, Banks graded out 33rd among NFL guards and Foerster also wasn’t effusive when asked about his career trajectory before the regular-season finale.
“There’s still some things that we can correct, but I think he’s improved,” Foerster said. “That’s the biggest thing I could say about Aaron.”
Tight end added: The 49ers agreed to terms with Jaguars tight end Luke Farrell on a multi-year contract that was generous enough to suggest they could envision a larger role than merely serving as George Kittle’s backup in 2025.
Farrell, 27, will sign a three-year deal with a maximum value of $20.25 million, with $11 million guaranteed. Farrell is strong blocker who had modest pass-catching numbers in his four seasons with Jacksonville. He had 12 catches for 67 yards in 2024 and had 36 catches for 318 yards and no touchdowns since he was a fifth-round pick in 2021.
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The 49ers added Farrell, 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, with the future of Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk uncertain. Juszczyk, 33, took a pay cut to stay with the 49ers last year and is scheduled to count $6.4 million against the salary cap this season. Juszczyk counted $3.6 million against the cap in 2024 after his salary reduction.
Hufanga departs: Safety Talanoa Hufanga, 26, reportedly agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract with $20 million guaranteed with the Broncos, a departure that was foreshadowed when the 49ers used mid-round draft picks on safeties the past two seasons. Without Hufanga, a 2021 fifth-round pick who was a first-team All-Pro in 2022, the 49ers’ starting safeties next season could be Malik Mustpaha (fourth round, 2024) and Ji’Ayir Brown (third round, 2023).
Hufanga was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year at USC, but he slipped in the draft partly because of injury concerns. Injuries wound up being the biggest reason he couldn’t replicate his 2022 breakout season, which included 97 tackles, four interceptions, nine pass breakups and two sacks in 17 games.
Hufanga played in 17 of 34 games the past two seasons, missing time with a torn ACL and torn wrist ligaments, and had 90 tackles, three interceptions, three pass breakups and no sacks.
Elijah exits: Elijah Mitchell’s injury-marred four-year tenure with the 49ers is over.
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The running back who missed the entire 2024 season and played in just 27 of 68 games reportedly agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Kansas City that has a maximum value of $3.5 million.
Mitchell, 26, a sixth-round pick, set the franchise’s rookie rushing record with 963 yards in 2021. But he never came close to reaching similar heights, gaining 560 yards from 2022-2023 before suffering a season-ending hamstring injury last year in training camp. Mitchell dealt with a strained abductor, sprained shoulder, broken finger, broken ribs, a concussion, a strained groin and two sprained MCLs in his first three seasons.
The 49ers backfield includes Christian McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo and Jordan Mason, who is a restricted free agent.
Reach Eric Branch: [email protected]; X: @Eric_Branch
