49ers Interested In TE Zach Ertz
DECEMBER 6: Going further here, Barrows indicates the 49ers are one of the most interested Ertz suitors. Connected to a potential Eagles reunion, Ertz would fit in as a Kittle backup/tandem partner in San Francisco. Dwelley is set to miss time and could land on IR, per Barrows. Ertz may wait another week to decide where he wants to land, while hoping a better offer emerges. But it appears the 49ers are firmly in the mix for a proven skill-position player to join Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.
DECEMBER 4: It sounds like a new suitor could be emerging in the Zach Ertz sweepstakes. When asked about the 49ers interest in the free agent tight end, coach Kyle Shanahan indicated that GM John Lynch has looked into a potential signing. On the flip side, Shanahan also acknowledged that he doesn’t expect a deal to materialize.
“I haven’t heard anything now, so I don’t think so at this time,” Shanahan said of a potential Ertz signing (via Matt Barrows of The Athletic). “But I have a lot of respect for him as a player. I’ve always been a fan…But right now, at least from my standpoint, we’re good with our (TE) group. But we have injuries and things change. So we’ll look into all options as always.”
As Shanahan hinted, the 49ers could use some additional depth at the position. As Barrows passes along, Ross Dwelley is currently dealing with a high ankle sprain and is expected to miss multiple weeks. This isn’t the end of the world for San Francisco’s tight ends depth chart, as Charlie Woerner is the clear TE2 behind George Kittle. Still, the injury opens a spot, and it remains to be seen if the 49ers would prefer a veteran or someone like practice squad TE Jake Tonges.
Elsewhere, the Ravens and coach John Harbaugh appear to be distancing themselves from the free agent tight end. As Harbaugh noted today, the team still isn’t counting out Mark Andrews for an eventual return, meaning the Ravens could be fine at the position come playoffs.
“Any time a great player is out there, you look at it,” Harbaugh told reporters (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic). “But I would say this: we like our TEs. We really like our guys. I’m not ruling out Mark Andrews for down the road. … I think right now, we’ll just roll with those guys.”
As of this afternoon, Ertz was still taking his time evaluating all of his options (per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler). It shouldn’t take long for the veteran to find his next landing spot, and it sounds like there are plenty of squads still in the running.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/20/23
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: G Max Scharping
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Mike Ford
Denver Broncos
- Released: LB Wyatt Ray
- Waived: CB Lamar Jackson
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: CB Corey Ballentine
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: S Jaquan Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DB Lonnie Johnson
New York Giants
- Signed: CB Leonard Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: TE Ross Dwelley
The Giants are giving Leonard Johnson a three-year deal, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. The former Duke prospect suffered a torn ACL while training for the 2022 draft; the Giants worked him out Monday and saw enough to take a flier. While Ford made two starts for the Falcons last season, the ex-UDFA is best known for his special teams work. He saw action on 83% of Atlanta’s ST plays last season, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (via Twitter) the Bengals are giving him a one-year deal worth up to $2.25MM.
Both Scharping and Lonnie Johnson are former Texans second-round picks. The Texans waived Scharping on roster-cutdown day in August, but the Bengals claimed him. Although Scharping only played 30 snaps for Cincinnati last season, the team will keep him around for another run at a backup gig. Months before bailing on Scharping, the Texans traded Johnson to the Chiefs. But Kansas City did not see much from the acquisition in camp and waived him. The Titans picked up Johnson via waivers, using him as a backup. Johnson has experience at both cornerback and safety, and The Score’s Jordan Schultz adds he agreed to a one-year Saints deal (Twitter link).
49ers Re-Sign TE Ross Dwelley
The 49ers are bringing back their backup tight end. The 49ers announced that they have re-signed tight end Ross Dwelley. It’s a one-year deal for the 27-year-old.
Dwelley joined the 49ers as an undrafted free agent out of San Diego in 2018. He’s spent his entire four-year career in San Francisco, seeing time in 60 games (17 starts). In addition to having a part-time job on offense, Dwelley has also had a consistent role on special teams.
2020 was Dwelley’s best offensive season as he filled in for George Kittle. Dwelley finished that season with 19 receptions for 245 yards and one score in 16 games (nine starts). He settled back into a backup role in 2021, hauling in only four catches for 51 yards and one score in 17 games (two starts).
Dwelley will slide behind Kittle on the depth chart in 2021. The 49ers are also rostering Charlie Woerner, Tanner Hudson, and former wideout Jordan Matthews at the position.
NFL Contract Details: 3/10/21
Deetz on some of the more recent deals in the NFL, via Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter):
- Texans C Justin Britt: One-year, $3.2MM deal. $500K to sign, $1.5MM salary, $1.2MM in per game roster bonuses, $5MM maximum value.
- Vikings DE Stephen Weatherly: One-year, $2MM deal. $500K to sign, $2M salary
- 49ers TE Ross Dwelley: One-year, $920K deal. $480K to sign, $920K salary, $200K in per game roster bonuses
Britt missed the 2020 season but seems to have a solid opportunity ahead of him in Houston. The Texans just released Nick Martin last week, opening up playing time at the center position.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/5/21
We’ll keep track of the latest minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: K Zane Gonzalez
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: K Tristan Vizcaino
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: C J.C. Hassenauer
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: TE Ross Dwelley, S Marcell Harris
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: RB/FB Khari Blasingame
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/5/20
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL John Wetzel
Denver Broncos
- Released: DL Billy Winn
- Waived: CB Horace Richardson
San Francisco 49ers
- Tendered as exclusive rights free agents: OL Daniel Brunskill, TE Ross Dwelley, CB Emmanuel Moseley, QB Nick Mullens, RB Jeff Wilson
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/15/18
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Trevor Bates
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Jay Bromley
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR Rashad Greene
- Placed on IR: WR Jaydon Mickens
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Ross Dwelley
- Waived: DL Ryan Delaire
Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC West
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC West teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Cardinals, Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Arizona Cardinals
Signed:
- DE Zach Moore
Claimed:
Cut:
- OL Evan Boehm
- T Will Holden
- DE Vontarrius Dora (injured)
- S A.J. Howard (injured)
Practice squad:
- RB Elijhaa Penny
- OL Will House
- DE Alec James
- QB Charles Kanoff
- DT Pasoni Tasini
- WR Jalen Tolliver
- TE Andrew Vollert
Los Angeles Rams
Practice squad:
- DB Dominique Hatfield*
- TE Temarrick Hemingway*
- WR Khadarel Hodge
- G Jeremiah Kolone
- TE Henry Krieger-Coble
- WR Steven Mitchell
- DB Steven Parker
- QB Luis Perez
- DB Ramon Richards
San Francisco 49ers
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Steven Dunbar
- TE Ross Dwelley
- CB Emmanuel Moseley
- QB Nick Mullens
- DB Tyvis Powell
- DL Niles Scott
- LB Pita Taumoepenu
- OL Najee Toran
- RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
Seattle Seahawks
Claimed:
Cut:
- DL Branden Jackson
- OL Rees Odhiambo
* = practice squad exception
49ers Cut 21 Players, Reach 53-Man Max
The 49ers have reached the 53-man roster maximum after releasing 21 players on Saturday afternoon. Here’s the full rundown:
The following players have been released:
- DL Jeremiah Attaochu
- WR Aaron Burbridge
- G Jonathan Cooper (story)
- WR Steven Dunbar Jr.
- TE Ross Dwelley
- DB Antone Exum Jr.
- TE Cole Hikutini
- FB Malcolm Johnson
- OL Andrew Lauderdale
- DB Dexter McCoil
- CB Tavarus McFadden
- RB Jeremy McNichols
- CB Emmanuel Moseley
- QB Nick Mullens
- DB Tyvis Powell
- DL Niles Scott
- OL Coleman Shelton
- LB Pita Taumoepenu
- LB Korey Toomer
- OL Najee Toran
- RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
In addition to those cuts, the Niners also have a few extra spots on their initial 53-man roster thanks to suspensions for wide receiver Victor Bolden and linebacker Reuben Foster. They’ll also be without defensive lineman Kentavius Street as he sits on the NFI list.
49ers Sign 13 Undrafted Free Agents
The 49ers have announced the signing of the following 13 undrafted college free agents:
- Steven Dunbar, WR (Houston)
- Ross Dwelley, TE (San Diego)
- Corey Griffin, S (Georgia Tech)
- Jack Heneghan, QB (Dartmouth)
- Alan Knott, OL (South Carolina)
- Tarvarus McFadden, CB (Florida State)
- Jamar McGloster, OL (Syracuse)
- Emmanuel Moseley, CB (Tennessee)
- Niles Scott, DL (Frostburg State)
- Coleman Shelton, OL (Washington)
- Najee Toran, OL (UCLA)
- Terrell Williams, S (Houston)
- Jeff Wilson, RB (North Texas)
McFadden was clearly a high post-draft priority for the 49ers, as the club handed the ex-Seminole largest known guarantee among undrafted free agents league-wide. He’ll receive a $20K signing bonus and a $70K base salary guarantee, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). While each NFL team is allowed to distribute roughly $100K in signing bonus to UDFAs, there is no limit as on base salary guarantees.
McFadden played in 13 games for Florida State in both 2016 and 2017, and earned All-ACC honors during his sophomore campaign. A former five-star recruit, McFadden has a long frame that helps him excel in press coverage, per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.
