Feb 2, 2020; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan prior to Super Bowl LIV against the Kansas City Chiefs at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Willie Snead IV recently spilled the beans on the team’s culture, and his message should make free agents nervous about signing with the team. Snead is currently a free agent this offseason following two seasons with the 49ers.

Sneads’ final game with the 49ers was a three-point loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime of February’s Super Bowl, so things in San Francisco can’t be all that bad. However, a few former players have taken shots at the organization this offseason.

Arik Armstead felt disrespected this offseason

As previously discussed on GH, former defensive tackle Arik Armstead said he felt disrespected by the 49ers offer to him after being with the team for nearly a decade:

“First off, I want to say I don’t have any animosity toward the organization, Kyle [Shanahan], John [Lynch], the York family,” Armstead said in a video posted on his X account. ” I felt extremely disrespected. They extended an offer to me,” the video cuts out to a blank number of millions the 49ers offered him.

“Nine years of me being there. The fans deserve to know what happened. You know, I had to make some decisions,” Armstead said.

Willie Snead thinks there’s an entitlement problem

While Armstead, a veteran team favorite on the defense, had a problem getting paid by the front office, Snead had the opposite problem in San Francisco. On his X account, Snead wrote the 49ers have an “entitlement” issue in their locker room. He hinted they don’t let players compete for playing time:

All I want is to go back to a team that isn’t afraid to let guys compete for a roster spot. These last 3 years been nothing short of entitlement… Competition breedz Champions, Snead wrote.

All I want is to go back to a team that isn’t afraid to let guys compete for a roster spot. These last 3 years been nothing short of entitlement… Competition breedz Champions❗️

— Willie Snead IV (@Willie_Snead4G) May 3, 2024

Snead didn’t get much playing time with the San Francisco 49ers

Snead spent the previous three seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, and 49ers. He appeared in 17 games and started none during that span. Snead has no targets for the 49ers during the 2022 season. He has recorded six receptions for 52 yards and no touchdowns in the last three seasons.

Snead recorded 33 receptions for 432 yards and three touchdowns with the Baltimore Ravens during the 2020 season. He’s a talented receiver but hasn’t been able to showcase his skills in the previous few years.

At 31, Snead has probably lost a step in his game. The undrafted free agent from Ball State has made an incredible career for himself compared to what NFL scouts thought he would be in the league. He’ll likely get another chance to play for an NFL team this fall.

The 49ers are going to get a chance to defend their NFC Championship crown. They seem to be doing things right. However, the 49ers empire could be crumbling. Maybe Sneed is giving us an inside view of how things in San Francisco are unfolding