Kyle Shanahan Targeted C.J. Beathard
Of all the quarterbacks in this year’s draft, Iowa’s C.J. Beathard was the only one 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan had interest in selecting, details Peter King of The MMQB. Shanahan ultimately got his man toward the end of the third round, pick No. 104, after the 49ers sent the 109th and 219th choices to Minnesota to trade up. “We’d all sleep a little better if we got him instead of waiting ’til tomorrow,” CEO Jed York told other members of the 49ers’ draft room before they moved up for Beathard. Shanahan compares Beathard to a former pupil, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, noting that Beathard “processes the game so well” and is “tough as sh–.”
49ers To Pick Up Jimmie Ward’s Option
The fifth-year option decisions are coming in fast and furious. The 49ers have decided to pick up defensive back Jimmie Ward‘s option for the 2018 season, GM John Lynch told reporters. 
“Yeah, it’s looking like that,” Lynch said when asked if the 49ers would pick up Ward’s fifth-year option (via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com). “(I) had no clue when you guys asked me that the other day. I had no idea. I had been focused on the draft. But, (the question) made me go check.”
This was the expected outcome in San Francisco. Ward is now slated to make $8.526MM in 2018, a figure that is guaranteed for injury.
In 2016, Ward moved to cornerback and made eleven starts before being shut down for the year with a shoulder injury. The 25-year-old (26 in July) had two interceptions, 12 passes defensed, one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery while grading out as the league’s No. 45 cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus. PFF gave him roughly even marks in coverage and run defense.
49ers To Sign C Tim Barnes
Former Rams center Tim Barnes will sign with Niners today, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link). Barnes visited the Niners in late April and just over one week later, he has himself a contract. 
The Rams surprised many when they cut Barnes earlier this offseason. After starting two seasons in the NFL, Barnes didn’t find a ton of interest once he hit the open market. Now he’ll join the Niners and it’s not clear whether he’ll be given a chance to compete for a starting job. Jeremy Zuttah, who was acquired via trade with the Ravens, currently projects as the team’s primary center.
In 2015, Barnes ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 29th-best center out of 39 qualifiers. This past season, PFF ranked him 31st out of 38 qualifiers.
49ers To Sign G Brandon Fusco
Veteran guard Brandon Fusco is on his way to San Francisco and is expected to sign with the 49ers, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The former Minnesota offensive lineman will serve as interior depth. 
[RELATED: 49ers Give Colorado LB Jimmie Gilbert $62K To Sign]
Fusco, 29 this summer, appeared in 14 games for Minnesota in 2016 and started in each of those contests. He visited the Patriots in late April, but he ultimately found his match with the Niners.
The Niners have shaken things up a bit on the offensive line this offseason after trading for center Jeremy Zuttah and signing former Seahawks tackle Garry Gilliam. The Fusco signing makes sense for SF after no offensive linemen were selected with the team’s ten picks last week.
Last year, Fusco had one of the worst scores of any qualified guard in the league last year, per Pro Football Focus. His only quality season, according to PFF, came in 2013 when he made 15 starts at right guard for Minnesota.
49ers Sign Colorado LB Jimmie Gilbert
The 49ers added ten rookies via the draft but they also see big potential in at least a couple of their UDFAs. In addition to giving Baylor wide receiver K.D. Cannon $45K to sign, they have also shelled out $62K guaranteed to ink Colorado outside linebacker Jimmie Gilbert, Tom Pelissero of USA Today tweets. 
[RELATED: 49ers Sign Baylor WR K.D. Cannon]
Gilbert’s $50K in base pay and $12K bonus gives him the highest reported bonus total of any UDFA this year, so far. It’s no surprise that Gilbert was highly sought after by teams after he earned third-team Associated Press All-American honors and first-team All-Pac-12 honors in his final season on campus. in 2016, Gilbert recorded 51 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles.
Gilbert’s wingspan enabled him to be a disruptive pass rusher while at CU, but the general knock on him is that he’s not particularly strong and hasn’t shown much in running situations. He’ll look to hook on in SF as a situational pass rusher.
Teams have $98,340 to spend on UDFA signing bonuses this year, as Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets. Already, the Niners have invested a decent chunk of that space in a pair of players.
49ers Sign Baylor WR K.D. Cannon
Baylor wide receiver K.D. Cannon did not get drafted last week, but he apparently had plenty of teams interested in him. The 49ers have signed him as an undrafted free agent and they gave him a $45K bonus to join the team, Tom Pelissero of USA Today tweets. 
Typically, teams will give a bonus of $5K or less to UDFAs to get them to join the offseason roster. The fact that Cannon is getting nine times that is a good indication that he had several teams looking to sign him.
The Niners clearly like Cannon, but he’ll have to impress in order to make the final 53-man roster. The addition of the 5’11”, 182-pound athlete gives San Francisco eleven receivers in total and the first four spots might already be locked down. Pierre Garcon, Jeremy Kerley, Marquise Goodwin, and Aldrick Robinson are SF’s projected top receivers. Former CFL star Eric Rogers is also among those looking to make the final cut and many believed that he was poised to make an impact last year before suffering a torn ACL in camp.
49ers Discussed Vance McDonald Trade
After the conclusion of the draft, GM John Lynch confirmed to beat reporters that the 49ers explored options for a Vance McDonald trade. They were unable to find a suitable deal, however. 
“That’s the reality of new regimes coming in, new schemes,” Lynch said Saturday (via Cam Inman of the Mercury News). “That’s not to say he can’t fit into our scheme. Frankly we received some interest from other people, then we did explore some options throughout the league with Vance. And nothing ended up happening, so Vance will come back and have an opportunity to compete.”
Lynch went on to say the 49ers will welcome back McDonald “with open arms.” Coach Kyle Shanahan added that “we want Vance here.” The Niners drafted tight end George Kittle in Saturday’s fifth round, but the GM says that’s not an indication that McDonald is being shipped out. For now, it sounds like McDonald is staying, but one has to wonder if he’ll remain on the block.
Just months ago, McDonald signed a five-year, $35MM extension. Three days after signing, he suffered a season-ending injury and was placed on IR. The 26-year-old (27 in June) had 24 catches and 391 yards in eleven games last year.
49ers Acquire Pick 121 From Colts
The 49ers have traded up in the fourth round. Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee tweets that the team has acquired the 121st pick from the Colts. NFL Network is reporting that Indy will be receiving a fourth-rounder (#143) and a fifth-rounder (#161) in the trade (via Twitter of IndySportsCentral.com’s Mike Chappell).
The 49ers ultimately used the pick to select Utah running back Joe Williams. 2016 was a breakout season for the senior, as he ran for 1,407 yards and ten touchdowns. He also added another nine receptions for 107 yards. Williams had one of his best outings during the Foster Farms Bowl, running for 222 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries.
49ers Acquire 177th Pick From Broncos
The 49ers have made yet another draft trade. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), San Francisco has acquired pick #177 from the Broncos. Running back Kapri Bibbs will also be headed to the 49ers. In return, Denver will be receiving a 2018 fourth-rounder from the 49ers.
Bibbs, a former undrafted free agent out of Colorado State, spent the past three seasons in Denver. In 13 career games, the running back rushed for 129 yards on 29 carries. He also added another two receptions for 75 yards and one touchdown.
Vikings Approached 49ers About Pick #104
- The Vikings reportedly approached the 49ers about trading for the 104th pick, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area (via Twitter). However, San Francisco wanted to guarantee that they’d get Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard, so they rebuffed Minnesota’s advances. Ironically, Minnesota was previously in possession of that pick.
[SOURCE LINK]