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.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/30/18
Here are Monday’s minor moves.
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: LB Carl Bradford
- Waived: Connor Harris
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: G Dustin Stanton
Houston Texans
- Waived: TE Zach Conque
- Waived: CB Bryce Jones
- Waived: TE Ryan Malleck
- Waived: OLB Gimel President
Minnesota Vikings
- Suspended for four games (PEDs): WR Cayleb Jones
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived/Injured: CB Elie Bouka
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived/Injured: LB Jimmie Gilbert
- Waived: LB Boseko Lokombo
- Waived/NFI: DB Dexter McCoil
- Waived/Injured: LB Donavin Newsom
- Waived: CB Channing Stribling
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: DL Johnny Maxey
- Waived: RB Khalfani Muhammad
- Waived: QB Alex Tanney
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: OL Avery Young
Washington Redskins
- Released: DL Montori Hughes
- Waived: TE Chris Brazil
- Waived: DB James Sample
- Waived: LB Cassanova McKinzy
49ers To Pass On Laken Tomlinson’s Option?
The 49ers made the decision to pick up the fifth-year option of their own 2015 first-round pick, signifying Arik Armstead is under control for two more seasons. However, they have another decision to make by Thursday — on the Lions’ 2015 first-round choice — and it doesn’t look like such a move will be in the cards.
San Francisco is set to pass on Laken Tomlinson‘s 2019 option, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. While the team has until Thursday to finalize its decision, Maiocco and the Sacramento Bee’s Matt Barrows (Twitter link) don’t believe that will happen.
It would cost the 49ers $9.625MM to pick up Tomlinson’s option. That’s slightly more than what Armstead’s will cost, but Tomlinson has been a better bet to be on the field during his career. He started 32 regular-season games for the Lions from 2015-16 and broke with the 49ers’ starters in 15 games last year.
This would make 2o18 a contract year for Tomlinson, who played well for the 2017 49ers and would be an interesting name on the 2019 UFA market if, in fact, he made it there. San Francisco has big money tied to Joe Staley, but his career is winding down. The 49ers signed Weston Richburg this offseason, however, and added Jonathan Cooper on a cheaper veteran accord.
The 49ers are projected to possess more than $54MM next offseason. While it’s too early for that amount to matter too much, it would appear the team could afford to keep Tomlinson in 2019. But it’s not certain he’ll have the same role by then, with Maiocco noting he, Cooper, Zane Beadles and 2017 UDFA Erik Magnuson will compete for the guard spots this summer. However, Tomlinson — acquired for a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft — may have the inside track considering how he performed last season.
49ers Exercise Armstead’s Fifth-Year Option
The 49ers will continue to deploy their tandem of Oregon-developed defensive linemen for the foreseeable future, ensuring Arik Armstead will be under team control through 2019 alongside DeForest Buckner.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets the 49ers plan to exercise Armstead’s fifth-year option. The No. 17 selection in the 2015 draft, Armstead has played both defensive tackle and defensive end in his career. And this could make his option amount yet to be determined.
He lined up at end last season in Robert Saleh‘s 4-3, and if that’s his determined position, the 49ers will be tagged with a $9.046MM salary in 2019. However, if he is deemed a defensive tackle, Armstead’s option season will come in at $7.154MM. Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle expects (Twitter link) Armstead will earn more than $9MM as an end in 2019, if he’s still on the roster by then.
These options are guaranteed for injury only, so the 49ers could move on from their 2015 first-rounder if they choose. He’d have to be able to pass a physical by the start of the 2019 league year, however, and Armstead has seen injuries cloud his career. The 49ers placed Armstead on IR midway through last season, and he played in just eight games in 2016. Armstead may have to show he can stay healthy this coming season for the 49ers to keep him. Of course, if another injury occurs, and one severe enough to shelve him into March of ’19, they’ll have no choice regardless of his production this season.
Redskins Send No. 44 Pick To 49ers
The 49ers made a move up into the top half of the second round, dealing with the Redskins for the No. 44 pick.
With the selection, San Francisco added to its receiving corps. Washington slot speedster Dante Pettis will be en route to the Bay Area. The 49ers traded Nos. 59 and 74 to the Redskins for their Nos. 44 and 142 selections.
The 49ers were not enamored with the free agent wide receiver contingent and instead have turned to the college ranks to add to their group, one fronted by Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin.
A 6-foot-1 pass-catcher, Pettis served as a key weapon for four Huskies squads. His best year came in 2016, when the Huskies stormed into the College Football Playoff, when he caught 15 touchdown passes.
49ers Sign Jaquiski Tartt To Extension
The 49ers are operating in high gear on Friday, having already traded one starter. Now, they’ve signed another to an extension.
The team announced a two-year re-up for safety Jaquiski Tartt. This will pay Tartt $13MM and could max out at $15MM, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. With Tartt having one more year left on his rookie deal, he’s now under 49ers control through the 2020 season.
A second-round pick in 2015, Tartt has only been extension-eligible for a few months now. But the franchise has evidently seen enough from him to make a commitment.
“Since we arrived last year, Jaquiski has impressed us with his play, his work ethic and the kind of teammate he is,” GM John Lynch said. “We believe he’s a natural fit in our defensive system and his abilities will allow him to flourish. It is always exciting when we are able to extend our own young players like Jaquiski who are dedicated to their craft, this team and our community.”
A part-time starter for his first two seasons, Tartt broke into a full-time role in 2017. Although he suffered a forearm injury that ended his season after just nine games, the 49ers appear to have had this on their agenda for a bit now. The Samford product joins Jimmie Ward, tentatively since Ward consistently vacillates between cornerback and safety, as San Francisco’s starting safeties.
The 26-year-old defender has 167 career tackles and two interceptions. He now figures to have a big role on higher-profile 49ers defenses after playing his career thus far on rebuilding San Francisco teams.
49ers Trade OT Trent Brown To Patriots
The Patriots have acquired offensive tackle Trent Brown from the Niners. The deal will see Brown and the No. 143 overall pick head to New England in exchange for the No. 95 overall selection, according to Adam Schefter and Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). 
Brown passed his physical and that was more than a formality in this case. The 49ers reportedly had concerns about Brown’s shoulder after offseason surgery (and his conditioning), so the Patriots had to confirm that he was good to go before making things official.
Brown graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 21 ranked tackle in the NFL last season. He also scored as one of the ten best pass blocking tackles in the league, but the Niners were looking for a tackle who performs better against the run.
The Patriots acquire Brown as he enters his contract year, which could give him some extra motivation to perform. The 49ers were unwilling to extend Brown’s deal, which helped bring about the trade (and the drafting of his replacement).
Brown projects to pair with top Pats draft pick Isaiah Wynn at tackle, though LaAdrian Waddle and Matt Tobin are also in the fold.
Patriots, 49ers Discussing Trent Brown Deal
The Patriots and 49ers are talking about a possible trade for that would send offensive tackle Trent Brown to New England, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter). It’s not immediately clear what the Pats would give up in a trade, but it’s safe to assume that it would involve picks from Day 2 of the draft. 
The Patriots own two second round picks (No. 43 and No. 63 overall ) as well as a third round pick (No. 95). The 49ers, meanwhile, won’t be called until the back end of the second round (No. 59), though they do possess the Nos. 70 and 74 overall picks in the third round.
Brown’s future is in flux after the Niners selected Mike McGlinchey No. 9 overall on Thursday night. He has one year left on his rookie contract and he’s no longer an extension candidate given the Niners’ crowded offensive line. Brown is currently recovering from shoulder surgery, but the Pats are apparently intrigued by his size and ability to protect on passing downs.
Last year, Brown received the eighth-highest pass protection score of any tackle in the league, per Pro Football Focus, and placed 21st overall. For what it’s worth, Nate Solder placed 32nd overall last year with New England.
The Patriots found a tackle of their own on the first night of the draft by selecting Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn with their No. 23 choice. At No. 31, the Patriots found a replacement for Dion Lewis when they snagged Georgia’s Sony Michel.
Draft Rumors: Ravens, Seahawks, 49ers, Pats
Let’s dive into some last-minute draft rumors as we anticipate the start of the first round…
- Should the Ravens go on the clock and Mike McGlinchey is off the board, it looks like they will strongly consider UCLA’s Kolton Miller. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets the Ravens are focused on Miller as a McGlinchey contingency plan at No. 16. These two are viewed by many as the top tackles in this year’s draft. Although Baltimore needs a right tackle after cutting Austin Howard, this serves as one of the possible Lamar Jackson destinations. Assuming the top four QB prospects are gone by this point in the draft, it could open up the trade market for the picks in the latter teens with the 2016 Heisman winner still available.
- Albert Breer of SI.com writes that there are several teams interested in moving down, including the 49ers (No. 9), Seahawks (No. 18), Lions (No. 20), Titans (No. 25), and Eagles (No. 32). Seattle would have particular interest in trading their pick if safety Derwin James or any of the top pass-rushers are off the board. Meanwhile, Breer notes that San Francisco could benefit if a quarterback-needy team wants to trade up.
- Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets that he keeps hearing Miami defensive lineman Chad Thomas being connected to the Patriots. Thomas didn’t earn a spot on NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah’s top-50 list, and he’s ultimately projected to be a third- or fourth-round pick. The senior was plenty productive in 2017, compiling 41 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.
Latest On 49ers LB Reuben Foster
Earlier this month, we heard that 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster is facing multiple felony charges and one misdemeanor in relation to a February domestic violence incident. However, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that the victim has recanted her claim.
Elissa Ennis, Foster’s former girlfriend, released a statement through her attorney stating that the linebacker did not cause her injuries earlier this year. Rather, the injuries were a result of a fight with another woman. Foster intended to end their relationship after learning after the fight, and Ennis followed through in her threat to “trash his career.”
“(Foster) did not strike her, injure her or threaten her,” attorney Stephanie Rickard told Maiocco.
This doesn’t necessarily mean Foster’s off the hook. As Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group tweets, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office has already said that they’d prosecute the NFL player even if the victim didn’t cooperate. As Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com notes, Foster is also facing a felony charge for possessing an assault weapon, which would seemingly be unrelated to the assault case. The NFL is conducting its own investigation, and they could ultimately choose to punish Foster.
The 49ers have already barred Foster from participating in their offseason program, and general manager John Lynch said he’d release the player if the allegations proved to be true.
“We do feel like patience is the right approach right now, that we are going to learn things through this legal process,” Lynch said (via Maiocco). “But I do want to be very clear, abundantly clear, that if these charges are proven true, that if Reuben did indeed hit this young lady, he won’t be part of our organization going forward.”