What happened: San Francisco is evaluating Christian McCaffrey's long-term fit as he plays out the final year of a relatively cheap cap structure. The 30-year-old running back carries a $1.3 million base salary for the 2026 season before his contract sharply escalates.

Why it matters: The 49ers must balance McCaffrey's elite production against his impending financial burden and the historical decline of running backs after age 30. Releasing him following this season would save $17.5 million in cap space, while a contract restructure could free up $11.7 million without incurring dead money.

What to watch: San Francisco will evaluate the progress of recent third-round draft pick Kaelon Black and 22-year-old Jordan James as potential future options in the backfield.