What happened: A breakdown of San Francisco right guard Dominick Puni's contract outlook frames the 26-year-old as an extension candidate heading into the 2026 season. Puni opened 2025 slowed by an August PCL injury, piling up 21 blown blocks over the first seven games before stabilizing down the stretch. He enters the third year of his four-year rookie deal carrying a modest $1.55 million cap number in 2026.

Why it matters: The 49ers rarely pay guards long-term — the last guard extension dates to Laken Tomlinson in June 2018, and the team let Aaron Banks walk despite his second-round pedigree. While Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz earned extensions, the interior line has not commanded that commitment. A strong, healthy 2026 from Puni would push San Francisco into unfamiliar negotiating territory.

What to watch: Watch Puni's consistency and health across the 2026 season, the key variables separating a Tippmann-level deal from Smith's tier.