Vikings, Four Others Interested In Rod Streater
The Vikings looking at free agent wide receiver Rod Streater, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets. The Colts, Seahawks, Browns, and incumbent 49ers are also in the mix, but Tomasson says that no deal imminent. 
Streater, 29, is ranked as one of our top fifteen wide receivers left on the open market. Once upon a time, Streater appeared to be on the verge of big things with the Raiders. Unfortunately, after catching 60 passes for 888 yards in 2013, he was derailed by injuries. After appearing in just four games for Oakland between 2014 and 2015, he wound up with the Niners on a one-year deal. He had 18 catches for 191 yards and two touchdowns for San Francisco while appearing in all 16 regular season games.
The Vikings have Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Jarius Wright, and Laquon Treadwell at receiver but Streater could be brought in to compete with Isaac Fruechte at the WR5 spot. The Niners technically have ten receivers under contract, including free agent additions Pierre Garcon, Marquise Goodwin, Aldrick Robinson, and DeAndre Carter.
49ers To Work Out Mitch Trubisky
- UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky will work out for the Browns, Jets, 49ers, and Chiefs, among others, per Andrew Carter of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link). Trubisky, considered one of the top-three signal-callers in this year’s class, is a surefire first-round pick and may be selected within the top five. Cleveland, for one, was said to be “strongly considering” Trubisky with the first overall pick, although that talk has died down recently.
- Controversial running back Joe Mixon met with the Raiders on Monday, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Because Mixon is from the Bay Area, his visit with Oakland won’t count against the Raiders’ allotment of 30 predraft meetings. Although video has surfaced of Mixon physically assaulting a female, he’s still expected to be drafted next month and a number of clubs have preceded the Raiders in meeting with the Oklahoma back.
Colin Kaepernick Nearly Signed Last Week
Even though he’ll stand for the national anthem in 2017, polarizing quarterback Colin Kaepernick hasn’t publicly drawn interest from any teams since he opted out of his contract with the 49ers on March 3. However, the free agent nearly signed with a club last week, Niners general manager John Lynch told KNBR (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle).
[RELATED: Where Kaepernick ranks among unsigned QBs]
“I don’t know what happened to that market (for Kaepernick) because when we added our second guy, at that time, I can just tell you, you learn things,” Lynch said. “And he was in everyone’s mind in this league very close to signing a deal with a team at a really good number. And it fell through, apparently.”
The “second guy” in this case is Matt Barkley, who signed with the 49ers after they inked fellow signal-caller Brian Hoyer to a deal. While it appears Hoyer and Barkley will serve as the 49ers’ top QBs next season, Lynch hasn’t completely ruled out re-signing Kaepernick.
“I think the likelihood of it happening has probably gone down significantly,” Lynch said. “But we’re not going to close our mind or options on anyone, including him.”
Despite Lynch’s statement, it’s a good bet that Kaepernick 49ers career is over after six years and 59 starts. While the 29-year-old was San Francicsco’s No. 1 for the majority of his tenure there, he’ll likely have to settle for a backup role with his next team.
John Lynch Defends Offseason Strategy
John Lynch‘s first offseason as the 49ers general manager may be remembered for the hefty contracts he handed out to a fullback and a former Super Bowl MVP.
The organization committed more than $23MM in guaranteed money to fullback Kyle Juszczyk and linebacker Malcolm Smith, leading some pundits to wonder whether agents were looking to take advantage of the new, inexperienced executive. Of course, that sentiment may not be entirely fair, as Lynch has added a number of free agents on favorable deals, including quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley, wide receivers/offensive weapons Pierre Garcon, Aldrick Robinson and Marquise Goodwin, tight end Logan Paulsen, linebacker Dekoda Watson, special teamer Don Jones, and kicker Robbie Gould.
Like any GM, Lynch will be forced to answer more questions regarding the “egregious” signings than the shrewd additions. The executive already started addressing his offseason strategy while appearing on San Francisco’s KNBR 680 yesterday. Thanks to CSNBayArea.com, we’re able to pass along some of those quotes below…
On the signings of Juszczyk and Smith:
“We’re proud of those signings. We really are … if you’re sitting there reading everything that people are saying about you and taking it personally, you aren’t gonna be very successful … I think the reason they both got nice contracts is because they were wanted. And we weren’t the only ones that wanted them. In a lot of our situations, we weren’t the highest bidder.”
On whether the two players were enticed by money or the organization:
“Guys came because there’s an exciting vibe here; guys want to be here. None of this means anything until they go play and we go play. But those are two guys we’re very excited to have as part of the 49ers.”
On the team’s negotiations with Juszczyk:
“In that period where the negotiating period started, we were doing some traveling and we got a call and they said, ‘Here’s where it’s at now,’ and we said, ‘Wow,’ because we set in with ‘Hey, to get this guy, we’re gonna have to likely make him the highest paid fullback ever.’ And we were willing to do that…
“But then it kind of got to even another step and we had to all stop and kind of look at each other and go, ‘OK. This is getting real.’ And that’s when we kind of came up the philosophy he’s not just a fullback; he’s an offensive weapon … I’m gonna trust my instincts on what the guy brings, not necessarily what the rest of the market sees him as.
“You can’t go crazy with that, but like I said, we weren’t the only ones interested in this guy … he’s still worth it to us.”
49ers Host Reuben Foster
- The 49ers have used one of their 30 pre-draft visits on Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster, who met with the team Friday, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link). Despite a less-than-ideal showing at the scouting combine, Foster figures to be among the first players chosen in this year’s draft, meaning he might end up with the 49ers at No. 2 overall. Of course, considering general manager John Lynch is willing to trade the pick, it’s possible San Francisco could move down a few selections and and still nab Foster.
49ers Sign Dekoda Watson
The 49ers have signed free agent linebacker Dekoda Watson, his agent, Peter Schaffer, announced on Instagram. It’s a three-year, $6MM deal, tweets Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
San Francisco is the sixth NFL team for the 29-year-old Watson, who originally went to the Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2010 draft. Since then, Watson has appeared in 89 games, made seven starts and picked up four sacks. As a member of the Broncos in 2016, he played a 16-game slate for the second time in his career and worked almost exclusively as a special teamer. While Watson only played 3.8 percent of the Broncos’ defensive snaps, he saw action in 84 percent of their special teams plays.
Denver had hoped to retain Watson, who instead joins newly signed Rams cornerback Kayvon Webster as the second key special teamer to leave the Mile High City this week. Watson also drew interest from one of the 49ers’ NFC West rivals, the Seahawks, and visited the Raiders while in the Bay Area on Friday, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link).
49ers Re-Sign DT Chris Jones
Chris Jones is back in San Francisco. The 49ers and the defensive tackle have agreed on a new one-year deal, agent Mike McCartney tweets.
Jones was claimed off waivers from the Dolphins in November of last year. He went on to start in all six of his games played for SF, racking up 17 tackles in total. After losing the entire 2015 season to a torn calf muscle, Jones proved that he’s back to 100% by appearing in 13 total games for San Francisco and Miami.
The 49ers currently project to start Earl Mitchell next to rising sophomore DeForest Buckner in the middle. Jones will join Quinton Dial and Mike Purcell on the bench, if he makes the final 53-man roster.
49ers To Host Tim Hightower
Free agent running back Tim Hightower will take a meeting with the 49ers, according to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com.
Hightower, 30, has spent the past two years with the Saints backing up Mark Ingram. During that time, Hightower has managed 229 carries while picking up four yards per touch. He’s scored eight touchdowns on the ground, while adding 34 receptions and another score through the air. New Orleans re-signed Travaris Cadet earlier today, but that shouldn’t preclude the club from having interest in Hightower.
The 49ers currently have three running backs on their roster: Carlos Hyde, Mike Davis, and Raheem Mostert. San Francisco also inked fullback Kyle Juszczyk during the free agent period, and he’s expected to act as more of an “offensive weapon” than as a true fullback. If signed, Hightower would serve as the clear-cut No. 2 behind Hyde.
Contract Details: Hoyer, Newman, Dansby
Let’s take a look at the details of a few recently-signed contracts:
- Karlos Dansby, LB (Cardinals): One year, $2MM. $700K guaranteed. $250K available via incentives (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
- Vlad Ducasse, OL (Bills): Three years, $3.5MM. $250K guaranteed. $250K signing bonus. Playing time incentives available (link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com).
- Brian Hoyer, QB (49ers): Two years, $12MM. $9.85MM guaranteed. $4MM signing bonus. $1.5MM available via incentives (20 touchdowns, 2,500 passing yards, Pro Bowl) in 2017. $5MM available via incentives (same thresholds) in 2018 (links via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com).
- Bennie Logan, DT (Chiefs): One year, $8MM. $7.68MM guaranteed. $1MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star).
- Alex Okafor, LB/DE (Saints): One year, $2MM. $1MM guaranteed. $1MM signing bonus. $1MM available in sack and playtime incentives (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of the Advocate).
- Terence Newman, CB (Vikings): One year, $3.25MM. $1.5MM guaranteed. $500K signing bonus (Twitter link via Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune).
49ers Keeping An Eye On Marcus Cromartie
- Cornerback Marcus Cromartie visited with the has generated interest from the Jets, Eagles, and Seahawks according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, who notes the 49ers are also “keeping an eye” on the three-year pro. Cromartie, 26, hit the open market last week after San Francisco declined to offer him a restricted free agent tender. He’s appeared in 21 games during his three-year NFL tenure, mostly acting as a special teams player during that time. The Lions are also intrigued by Cromartie, and hosted him for a visit over the weekend.