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.
49ers To Decline Joshua Garnett’s Option
The 49ers will not pick up their option on guard Joshua Garnett, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). This was expected – thanks to injuries, Garnett has not lived up to the expectations laid out for him when the Niners used a late first-round pick on him in 2016. 
Garnett missed all of 2017 after undergoing knee surgery and only saw action as a reserve in seven games last year. Given his underwhelming performance and injury history, the Niners were not about to trigger his $10.350MM option for 2020, which they would have been stuck with if he was unable to pass a physical heading into next year.
The Stanford product started in 11 of his 15 games as a rookie, but even then, his performance was underwhelming – Garnett racked up penalties and didn’t excel in run blocking or pass blocking. The good news is that the team says Garnett is finally healthy, so this year could be an opportunity for the 25-year-old to turn a corner and boost his value before hitting the open market.
Discord Among 49ers' Decision-Makers?
- Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch regime exited their third draft together, and Matt Miller of Bleacher Report notes the 49ers‘ top two decision-makers may not be in lockstep. Shanahan would prefer to focus on developing players and scheming, but scouting and coaching sources told Miller the third-year HC has grown skeptical of Lynch’s decision-making on the personnel side. When asked about the report Tuesday, Shanahan (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area) called it “complete bulls***.” But if there is more to this situation, Miller writes it would likely be Shanahan staying in place and then looking for a new GM/personnel chief after the departures of Lynch and player personnel VP Adam Peters.
- Ziggy Ansah visited a fourth team this week, with the suddenly edge rusher-needy Seahawks taking a look at the former Lions sack artist. But as could be expected, a signing will have to wait a week, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes (video link). Teams are not expected to sign the former Pro Bowl defensive end until after May 8, when free agents no longer count against the compensatory pick formula. Ansah joins the likes of Ndamukong Suh, Eric Berry, Michael Crabtree, Jamie Collins, Muhammad Wilkerson and other veterans in this boat. Next week figures to reignite free agency, to a degree, for teams looking to fill specific post-draft needs.
Draft Pick Signings: 4/30/19
The first 2019 draft pick signing commenced Tuesday. Only 253 to go.
- The 49ers signed their fourth-round pick (No. 110 overall), punter Mitch Wishnowsky, to the CBA-mandated four-year contract. Wishnowsky was the first specialist chosen in this year’s draft. Ranking second in Division I-FBS with a 47.7-yard punting average, the Utah alum earned second-team All-America honors last season. However, Wishnowsky broke into football late; this will be the Australia native’s age-27 season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/30/19
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Marcus Baugh (AAF), TE Cole Hunt (AAF)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed off waivers from 49ers: LB James Onwualu
New York Giants
- Waived: T Jylan Ware
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: RB James Butler, LB Cayson Collins, WR Rashard Davis, G/C Cameron Hunt, WR De’Mornay Pierson-El
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed off waivers from 49ers: S Godwin Igwebuike
Washington Redskins
- Waived: DB Alex Carter, G Kyle Fuller, T Darius James, WR Tre McBride, DB Harlan Miller, OL Salesi Uhatafe
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/29/19
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: C Kyle Friend
Denver Broncos
- Signed: K Taylor Bertolet (AAF)
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: OL Nico Siragusa, DB Jason Thompson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: C Tejan Koroma
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: OL Jeremiah Kolone
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: WR Steven Dunbar, DB Godwin Igwebuike, CB Tarvarus McFadden, LB James Onwualu, WR Jordan Smallwood, P Justin Vogel, S Terrell Williams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- K Phillip Anderson, LB Riley Bullough, DE Hunter Dimick, P Hayden Hunt, DE Nick Thurman
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: NT Darius Kilgo
Broncos Acquire LB Dekoda Watson
We have a player trade. The 49ers have dealt linebacker Dekoda Watson and No. 212 to the Broncos for No. 148, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter).
This will be a reunion for Watson and the Broncos, as the linebacker played in Denver during the 2016 season. The former seventh-rounder has bounced around the NFL during his nine-year career. He spent the past two seasons with San Francisco, playing mostly on special teams.
Watson was limited to only four games in 2018, as he battled hamstring and calf injuries.
49ers Trade No. 104 To Bengals
The Bengals have acquired pick No. 104 from the 49ers, reports Matt Maiocco NBC Sports Bay Area (via Twitter). The 49ers acquired a third-rounder (No. 110) and a pair of sixth-rounders (No. 183, No. 198).
The Bengals will use the pick on NC State quarterback Ryan Finley. Following two seasons with Boise State, Finley had the opportunity to start for NC State over the past three seasons. He finished the 2018 campaign having completed 67.4-percent of his passes for 3,928 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Finley shouldn’t supplant Andy Dalton for playing time, but he should at least push the veteran. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes that Finley was the only quarterback prospect the Bengals hosted during the pre-draft process.
49ers GM: We Won’t Trade Solomon Thomas
Solomon Thomas is reportedly on the block, but 49ers GM John Lynch says that’s not the case. When asked if Thomas will be a part of the team in 2019, Lynch replied in the affirmative (Twitter link via Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports). 
Thomas, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft just two years ago, hasn’t done a whole lot as a pro. Meanwhile, the Niners went out and got Dee Ford this offseason to pair with Arik Armstead, leaving Thomas in limbo on the defensive line. Clearly, the 49ers are unsure about what Thomas can bring to the table, but at the same time, they likely recognize that his stock is low.
Last year, Thomas had one sack with 31 tackles in total. He’s still on an inexpensive rookie deal, but it’s hard to imagine another team giving up anything of consequence for him at this time. It’s possible that injuries elsewhere will open up trade opportunities for him, but it’s also quite possible that Lynch is telling the truth – while the Cardinals are open to bailing on last year’s No. 10 overall pick, the Niners could be willing to find out whether Thomas can be a late bloomer in the NFL.