The 49ers declined to use the franchise tag designation for the fourth consecutive year.
The deadline for NFL teams to use the transition or franchise tag on players scheduled to become free agents next week passed on Tuesday afternoon.
The 49ers determined the price of franchise tag was too costly to bring back any of their scheduled free agents on one-year contracts for the 2016 season.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
[MAIOCCO: Should 49ers go after recently tagged Dolphins DE Vernon?]
The top 49ers scheduled for free agency, which begins next week, are nose tackle Ian Williams, guard Alex Boone, wide receiver Anquan Boldin and kicker Phil Dawson.
Here is a look at the 49ers’ history of the franchise tag:
2012: Safety Dashon Goldson
2010: Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin
2004-2005: Linebacker Julian Peterson
1999: *Wide receiver Terrell Owens
1993: *Quarterback Steve Young
*-Signed long-term contract extensions.