49ers Notes: Thomas, Garcon, UDFAs
The 49ers have a bit of a logjam on the defensive line, particularly when it comes to three-technique players, as Matt Barrows of The Athletic writes.
Naturally, DeForest Buckner, Nick Bosa, and Dee Ford are all locks for the roster while Arik Armstead, D.J. Jones, and Kentavius Street have an “excellent chance” at being in SF for Week 1. Meanwhile, Solomon Thomas, Ronald Blair, Jullian Taylor, and Sheldon Day are in the “good shot” tier.
Thomas’ name has popped up in trade rumors, but the Niners flatly deny that he is available and Barrows has only heard from one source –not multiple sources – that Thomas is on the block. Still, given the team’s depth on the D-Line, it’s a story worth monitoring this summer.
Here’s more on the Niners:
- More from Barrows, who writes that Iowa guard Ross Reynolds and Wyoming tight end Tyree Mayfield have the best odds of any 49ers UDFA to make the roster. With Laken Tomlinson and Weston Richburg coming back from injuries, Reynolds should have an opportunity to stick as a depth option with size. Meanwhile, Mayfield’s versatility could allow him to stick as a WR/TE/H-Back type.
- Even more from Barrows, who has not heard of any teams showing interest in former 49ers wide receiver Pierre Garcon. The Niners declined Garcon’s option earlier this offseason, bringing his five-year, $47.5MM contract to a premature end. Unfortunately, injuries slowed Garcon during his time in SF, limiting him to just eight games in each of the last two years. The good news is that Barrows hears he is now fully recovered from the knee surgery he had in December.
- The 49ers had interest in tight end Ben Watson, but he signed with the Patriots before they could get a good look at him.
Patriots Meet With Ben Watson
Former Saints tight end Ben Watson, who previously said he would retire, will meet with the Patriots on Thursday, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Watson isn’t putting all of his eggs into the Patriots’ basket, either – he’s also considering the Chiefs, Bills and, 49ers, according to Schefter. 
Watson is a free agent following the expiration of his one-year, $2MM Saints contract. He played four of the past six seasons with the Saints, who since replaced him with pricey free agent Jared Cook.
Watson played the 2017 season with the Ravens, missing all of 2016 due to injury, and spent the first three years of this decade in Cleveland. Unfortunately, his 2018 season ended a bit early when he missed the NFC championship game due to appendicitis. He caught 35 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns during the regular season.
Now, he could return to where it all began. Watson spent the first six years of his career with the Patriots after entering the league as the final first-round pick in the 2004 draft. After Rob Gronkowski‘s retirement, the Pats could certainly use the help, even if Watson doesn’t offer the same upside as the party animal.
49ers Sign C Wesley Johnson
The 49ers signed center Wesley Johnson, according to a team announcement. To make room, the club waived tight end Marcus Lucas. 
[RELATED: 49ers, DeForest Buckner Far Apart On Talks]
Johnson spent 2015-2017 with the Jets and became their starting center in 2016 after injuries halted Nick Mangold‘s career. Then, last season, he hooked on with the Dolphins and appeared in ten contests.
With the Niners, Johnson could serve as a backup behind starter Weston Richburg, who underwent knee surgery in January. The expectation is that Richburg will be ready in time for training camp, but recovery timetables off of knee surgery are notoriously unreliable.
Lucas, meanwhile, will seek yet another NFL home. He’s bounced around the league since entering in 2014, but has yet to see time in a regular season contest.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/6/19
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DE Aaron Adeoye, CB Terrell Bonds, OT Darrell Williams
- Waived: DB Robertson Daniel, S Evan Worthington, OL C.J. Toogood
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Tommy Doles, DE Jalen Dalton
- Cut: DB Adarius Pickett, DE Lawrence Marshall
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Jhavonte Dean, RB Travon Gray, LB Willie Harvey
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed: WR Jawill Davis
- Signed: WR Darrius Shepherd, CB Chandon Sullivan
- Released: RB Lavon Coleman
Kansas City Chiefs
- Reserve/non-football injury list: DE Tim Ward
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Bryce Hager
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Terrance Alexander, DE Stacy Keely, DB Isaiah Wharton
New England Patriots
- WR Xavier Ubosi
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Kenny Bigelow Jr., RB Devine Ozigbo, CB Jordan Wyatt
New York Giants
- Signed: G Austin Droogsma
New York Jets
- Waived: QB Brandon Silvers
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: P A.J. Cole, DT Ronald Ollie
- Waived: P Drew Kaser, OL Jamar McGloster
San Francisco 49ers
- Claimed: OL Willie Beavers,
- Signed: LB LaRoy Reynolds, RB Austin Walter
- Waived: RB Matthew Dayes, DL Ryan Delaire
49ers, DeForest Buckner Far Apart On Talks
The 49ers and star defensive lineman DeForest Buckner have had contract negotiations for a long-term deal, but but they remain far apart on terms, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Agent Chafie Fields has talked with team brass over the last few days, but there is no deal in sight. 
The Niners exercised Buckner’s fifth-year option last week and a long-term pact remains a priority for the club. The former No. 7 overall pick is coming off a breakout 2018 campaign in which he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ 23rd-best defensive lineman. He started all 16 games, and racked up 12 sacks while also being a force against the run.
For now, the fifth-year option is slated to pay Buckner $12.378MM in 2020. The Niners can ill-afford to lose him after that, especially since 2017’s No. 3 overall pick Solomon Thomas hasn’t panned out so far.
The good news for the 49ers is that Buckner isn’t necessarily in a rush to ink a multi-year pact.
“We’ve had conversations here and there. Honestly, it’s very early,” Buckner said in April. “Just because I’m eligible for a new contract going into my fourth year, it’s still very early in the process.”
49ers Expected To Re-Sign Bradley Pinion
- The 49ers will proceed cautiously with Nick Bosa. Despite the No. 2 overall pick participating fully at the Combine, the 49ers held him out of team drills at rookie minicamp this week. After Bosa missed most of his junior season at Ohio State due to a core muscle injury, the 49ers plan work him in slowly, a team official told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.
- The first punter went off the board in the fourth round this year, with the 49ers making Mitch Wishnowsky being the highest-drafted punter since the Jaguars took Bryan Anger in the 2012 third round. However, the 49ers did not expect to need a punter, per Maiocco, who notes they viewed 2015 fifth-round pick Bradley Pinion as a player likely to be re-signed. Instead, the Buccaneers swooped in and landed the free agent specialist on a four-year, $11MM deal.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/5/19
Here are today’s minor moves. We’ll update this list throughout the day:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: K Cole Hedlund, DT Sterling Shippy, LB Tre Thomas, CB Shakial Taylor
- Waived: Clayton Hatfield, CB Chris Rayford, DE Anthony Winbush
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Tenny Adewusi (UDFA/Delaware), P Ryan Anderson (UDFA/Rutgers), DE Alex Jenkins
- Placed on IR: Nate Harvey
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Austin Walter
49ers Sign Third-Round WR Jalen Hurd
The 49ers, who made the league’s first 2019 draft pick signing, got even more deals done to close out the week. The following players are officially in the fold:
- 3-67: Jalen Hurd, WR (Baylor)
- 5-148: Dre Greenlaw, LB (Arkansas)
- 6-176: Kaden Smith, TE (Stanford)
- 6-183: Justin Skule, T (Vanderbilt)
- 6-198: Tim Harris, CB (Virginia)
Hurd, naturally, is the biggest name in the bunch. The wide receiver had an extended journey through the college ranks after spending three years with Tennessee as a running back before transferring to Baylor, where he moved to wide receiver. Hurd had to sit out the 2017 season, but he made up for lost time in 2018 with 69 catches for 946 yards and four touchdowns. He also got some work out of the backfield where he averaged 4.4 yards per carry and added another three TDs.
With those five plus punter Mitch Wishnowsky under contract, the Niners have only two to go – first-round pick Nick Bosa and second round wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
49ers Add 10 Undrafted Free Agents
Teams continue to finalize their UDFA hauls. Here are the players who will try to make the 49ers’ 53-man roster:
- Azeez Al-Shaair, LB (Florida Atlantic)
- Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, S (Arizona)
- Jamell Garcia-Williams, DL (UAB)
- Kevin Givens, DL (Penn State)
- Cameron Glenn, S (Wake Forest)
- Malik Henry, WR (West Georgia)
- Tyree Mayfield, TE (Wyoming)
- Shawn Poindexter, WR (Arizona)
- Ross Reynolds, G (Iowa)
- Wilton Speight, QB (UCLA)
Michigan’s starting quarterback in 2016, prior to a back injury that ended up costing him the job, Speight finished his career in Los Angeles and appeared in seven games for the 2018 Bruins. He threw just six touchdown passes in his lone UCLA campaign. He will become the fourth quarterback on the 49ers’ roster.
Garcia-Williams stands 6-foot-7 and is coming off a breakout year, when he recorded 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. He will compete for time along the edge for a San Francisco team suddenly much stronger at that spot. Givens profiles as an interior defender, a spot where the 49ers have been deep for years due to their continued first-round investments.
The 49ers guaranteed $25K of Mayfield’s base salary, along with a $10K signing bonus, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Mayfield comprised part of the 49ers’ pre-draft visitor list. Despite Henry totaling fewer than 400 yards at Division II West Georgia last year, the 49ers are guaranteeing him $90K, Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes (subscription required).
Former 11th Overall Pick Anthony Davis Attempting Comeback
Anthony Davis is attempting another comeback. Not the NBA superstar, but the former 49ers offensive tackle. Davis is un-retiring and has filed paperwork to be reinstated by the league, per Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. 
Davis was the 11th overall pick of the 49ers back in 2010, so this is pretty notable. The Rutgers product became an immediate starter in San Francisco, starting all 16 games at right tackle in each of his first four seasons in the league. He started for the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. After the 2014 season, Davis announced his intention to retire, citing his health as the main reason for walking away.
He briefly attempted a comeback after the 2015 season, and returned to the 49ers. He played in just one game in 2016 before stepping away again. Davis sent a letter to commissioner Roger Goodell explaining his decision, which Florio obtained. In it, he seemed to indicate that concerns about concussions were at least partially what was keeping him away.
“On January 24, 2019, I read articles by 3 different sources pertaining to there being a significant decrease in concussions in the NFL, down by 29 percent in the 2018 season,” Davis wrote. “Excited to see that the changes you and your staff have made to the rules, and the allowance of safer equipment to be worn has had a positive effect, I confided with my family and on January 28, 2019 I made the decision that I’d love to play in the NFL again.”
Davis sustained a concussion in Week 1 of 2016, so this makes sense. He hasn’t played in a few years, but he’s still only 29. He’s always been high on talent, so he should be able to get a look from somebody assuming he follows through with his decision.