By Solomon 
Former 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman is keeping a close watch on his old team this offseason, and he’s got some serious questions about their free-agency decisions.
On his podcast, Sherman admitted he’s confused about what San Francisco is doing. “You’ve got to make a move,” he said. “You’re getting rid of all your defensive linemen… The offensive and defensive lines are what win championships.” He pointed out how recent Super Bowl games were decided in the trenches, including last season when Chris Jones disrupted a key play against Brock Purdy, costing the 49ers big time.
The 49ers are making major changes, particularly on defense. They’ve let go of defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Leonard Floyd, and linebacker Dre Greenlaw is heading to Denver on a three-year, $35 million deal. So far, they haven’t signed any replacements. Sherman even mentioned Joey Bosa as a possible option, but the Bills locked him down with a one-year, $12.6 million contract.
San Francisco is also letting offensive linemen walk, including tackle Jaylon Moore and guard Aaron Banks. But this seems to be part of their bigger plan. General manager John Lynch has said they want to get younger and cheaper, especially with Brock Purdy due for a big contract extension soon.
With 11 picks in the upcoming draft, the 49ers have a chance to rebuild, but will they actually improve? After finishing 6-11 last season, they certainly hope so.
Sherman’s take? It all starts in the trenches. “You can pay for flashy receivers and quarterbacks, but if your lines aren’t solid, it’s going to be tough to win in this league,” he said.