49ers To Sign Robbie Gould
The 49ers have agreed to a deal with free agent kicker Robbie Gould, reports Alex Flanagan of NFL Network (Twitter link). It’s a two-year pact, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan (Twitter link via Adam Schefter).
Gould will take over in San Francisco for Phil Dawson, who signed with the NFC West rival Cardinals on Thursday. The 49ers will be the third NFL franchise for the 35-year-old Gould, who spent 2005-15 with the Bears. A couple months after Chicago released him prior to last season, Gould hooked on with the Giants in October.
A career 85.9 percent field goal kicker, Gould converted all 10 of his attempts in 10 games last year and also hit on 20 of 23 extra points. His PAT performance with Big Blue represented a drop-off from his showing in 2015 in Chicago, where he nailed 28 of 29 extra points.
In heading to San Francisco, Gould will rejoin special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, who was the Bears’ assistant ST coach last year. With Gould, Steven Hauschka and Nick Novak now off the market, Nick Folk stands as PFR’s top-rated free agent kicker.
49ers Had Trade Interest In Connor Barwin
The 49ers discussed a Connor Barwin trade with the Eagles before he was released, tweets Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. As such, San Francisco could make sense as a landing spot for Barwin.
Barwin was in the midst of a six-year, $36MM contract he signed in 2013. Last year, the 30-year-old totaled 34 tackles, five sacks, and one forced fumble. He appeared in all 16 regular season games for the sixth consecutive season.
Part of the reason for Barwin’s Eagles ouster is his poor fit in a 4-3 scheme. The 49ers are now moving to a 4-3 front under new coordinator Robert Saleh, although his defense is said to have elements of a 3-4 look. Either way, San Francisco clearly has some level of interest in adding Barwin to its roster.
FA Rumors: Charles, Hightower, Cutler, Bills
The latest free agency rumors from around the league:
- Jamaal Charles will visit the Seahawks next week, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT. The Seahawks’ interest in Charles was first reported on Thursday morning. If he signs with Seattle, he’ll join Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise on the RB depth chart.
- A Dont’a Hightower/Patriots re-up remains on the table, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reporting (on Twitter) the parties remain in good communication about keeping Hightower in New England.
- The Jets‘ interest in Jay Cutler is being reciprocated by the veteran quarterback, Rapoport notes (on Twitter). The Bears released Cutler today after eight seasons.
- Malcolm Smith will receive a raise from the 49ers after his two years with the Raiders. Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets it’s a five-year, $26.5MM deal for the outside ‘backer, with $13MM guaranteed. This $5.3MM-AAV pact represents quite the bump from his $3.5MM deal in Oakland, one that didn’t come with rave reviews from the advanced metrics community.
- The Bills remain interested in retaining Lorenzo Alexander, Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News tweets. The sides are continuing to work at completing a deal for the edge defender. Although the Bills are moving to a 4-3 scheme, Alexander — who thrived as a 3-4 outside ‘backer in the form of 12.5 sacks in 2016 — looks to still be part of their plans.
- It sounds like the Bills and Lions are in the lead for wide receiver Russell Shepard (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler). He could still wind up returning to the Buccaneers.
Sam Robinson contributed to this report.
49ers To Sign TE Logan Paulsen
The 49ers plan to sign former Chicago tight end Logan Paulsen, according to Fallon Smith of CSNBayArea.com (on Twitter). Paulsen is known primarily for his run blocking. It’s a one-year deal, tweets Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
Last year, Pro Football Focus gave Paulsen a 75.2 run blocking score, which put him in the top ten amongst all tight ends. He had a less impressive 68.8 pass blocking grade, putting him 22nd amongst all qualified TEs.
We had Paulsen ranked as one of the 15 best tight ends on the open market.
Ravens Re-Sign Ryan Mallett
The Ravens have agreed to re-sign backup quarterback Ryan Mallett. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) first reported the news.
Mallett also had interest from the Jets, Bears, and 49ers and was mulling opportunities with all four clubs as recently as Wednesday night, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (Twitter link) On Thursday, he reached a decision.
Next season will be the third campaign in Baltimore for Mallett, who first joined the team late in 2015. Mallett had previous stops in New England, which chose him in the third round of the 2011 draft, and Houston.
The ex-Arkansas star attempted only four passes as a member of the Patriots, with whom he backed up Tom Brady, before garnering more playing time as a Texan. The 6-foot-6, 240-pounder fared poorly in Houston, though, as he completed just 53.6 percent of passes, threw five touchdowns against six interceptions, and averaged only 5.3 yards per attempt across nine appearances and six starts. His tenure there ended shortly after he overslept and missed a team charter flight.
Now 28, Mallett hasn’t been particularly effective with the Ravens in six games and two starts (59.2 percent completion rate, two TDs against three picks, and 5.7 YPA), but the team is apparently comfortable with him in a reserve role behind Joe Flacco.
NFC Rumors: Rams, 49ers, Lions, Saints
The Rams are receiving “significant interest” as they attempt to trade franchise-tagged cornerback Trumaine Johnson, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter link). As of yet, the only club to be directly linked to the Johnson discussions is the Browns, and even that report from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com was seemingly tangential and not indicative of definitive interest. Johnson is set to earn nearly $17MM in 2017 under his second consecutive franchise tender.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- Free agent defensive tackle Terrell McClain is generating “a lot of interest” from the 49ers, writes Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News. McClain is coming off the best season of his career, as he started more 12 or more games for the first time since 2012. In 15 starts, McClain put up 39 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He’s also been linked to Atlanta, Seattle, Washington, and Miami.
- The Lions reached out to offensive tackle Mike Remmers before signing Ricky Wagner, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Remmers isn’t an elite tackle like Wagner, but he can play both the left and right side and has started 32 games for Carolina over the past two seasons. He rates as PFR’s No. 10 free agent offensive tackle.
- Although the Saints have interest in retaining linebacker Michael Mauti, a deal may not come together until later in free agency, according to Joel Erickson of the Advocate (Twitter link). Mauti, 27, played in eight games for New Orleans last season before being placed on the NFI list with an intestinal issue. While he’s not a contributor on defense, Mauti did play 35% of the Saints’ special teams snaps despite only managing a half-season.
- The meeting between the Vikings and controversial running back prospect Joe Mixon went “very well,” tweets Matt Miller of Bleacher Report. Mixon will meet with the Raiders next, per Miller, after posting a successful Pro Day this afternoon.
49ers To Sign Brian Hoyer
The 49ers will sign Brian Hoyer, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Hoyer’s role is not immediately clear, but it’s at least possible that he may be San Francisco’s starter in 2017. It’s a two-year deal, tweets Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. The pact contains base salaries of $6MM in each season and $10MM in guarantees, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. With potential incentives factored in, Hoyer could make up to $9MM per year (Twitter link). 
The Jets also had interest in Hoyer, but it seems that his relationship with coach Kyle Shanahan helped push him to San Francisco. The incumbent Bears and the Bills also had some level of interest in him. The Bears probably backed off as their pursuit of Mike Glennon gained steam and the Bills came off the board when they worked out a restructured deal with Tyrod Taylor.
Hoyer and Shanahan worked together on the 2014 Browns, who finished with the moribund franchise’s best record since 2007. Hoyer’s per-pass numbers were better with the Texans and Bears, respectively, but his longest audition as a starter came for a Cleveland team that didn’t have Josh Gordon‘s services, for the most part. The Cleveland-area native threw for more than 3,000 yards for the only time in his career and tossed 12 touchdown passes.
In Chicago, Hoyer threw four 300-yard games last season before suffering a season-ending injury, and he guided the Texans to the playoffs in 2015 despite being embroiled in a strange quarterback controversy with Ryan Mallett for part of the year. His arrival in San Francisco could signal the 49ers leaning toward taking a quarterback in the draft. Numerous passers — headlined by Kirk Cousins — were believed to be on the 49ers’ radar, but Hoyer looks to be a bridge starter in the meantime. Washington slapped the exclusive franchise tag on Cousins, so a trade would be the only scenario in which San Francisco could acquire him this year. But Cousins could be a 2018 UFA, and a Hoyer deal would line up with a possible Shanahan pursuit of another former pupil next year.
Hoyer went 1-4 in five Bears starts last year but 5-4 with the ’15 Texans and guided the Browns to all seven of their wins a year prior.
Falcons, 49ers In On Dontari Poe
The Falcons and 49ers are among the clubs pursuing defensive tackle Dontari Poe, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), who already connected the Redskins and Colts to Poe earlier today.
Atlanta is expected to revamp its defensive line this offseason, and has already indicated it won’t re-sign veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux. Poe, who ranks, as PFR’s No. 4 interior defender, who slot in at defensive tackle next to Grady Jarrett and Ra’Shede Hageman, each of whom improved in 2016. Overall, however, the Falcons’ front four ranked in the bottom half of the league in both adjusted line yards allowed and adjusted sack rate.
Like the Falcons, the 49ers will employ a Seattle-esque defense, and could use Poe in the middle of their 4-3 front. Although San Francisco’s roster is relatively barren, the one place it does have a bit of depth is up front. Former first-round picks Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner will be joined by recent signing Earl Mitchell, while Aaron Lynch and Quinton Dial will also be factors.
As Jason Cole of Bleacher Report first reported today, Poe may be forced to accept a one-year, prove-it deal if his market doesn’t develop as expected. If Poe goes that route, he could re-enter the free agent market in 2018 at the age of 27.
49ers Expected To Sign Malcolm Smith
The 49ers are expected to sign free agent linebacker Malcolm Smith on Thursday, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (Twitter link) first reported San Francisco’s interest.
A report earlier today indicated the Raiders are unlikely to retain Smith, but San Francisco is the first team that’s been officially linked to the former Super Bowl MVP. Smith, 27, has spent the past two years in Oakland serving as a full-time starter for the first time in his career. During that time, he’s started 30 games and averaged more than 100 tackles per season. Pro Football Focus hasn’t been fond of Smith’s production, however, giving him negative marks for the majority of his career.
The 49ers have been active today, but they’ve mostly added offensive players that won’t have an affect on a defense that ranked 28th in DVOA last season. San Francisco is moving to a Seahawks-esque 4-3 defense under new coordinator Robert Saleh, so Smith would offer both scheme familiarity and versatility, and could conceivably slot in at either outside linebacker spot.
Smith, who ranks as PFR’s No. 12 free agent linebacker, is coming off a two-year pact that paid him $3.5MM annually.
49ers To Sign WR Marquise Goodwin
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin is signing with the 49ers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The speedster should be a strong fit for Kyle Shanahan‘s offense in San Francisco, and he could make up to $8MM on a two-year deal, per Rapoport (Twitter link).
Goodwin, a former track and field Olympian, spent the last four years in Buffalo. With the Bills, he totaled 49 catches and six touchdowns in 39 games. Goodwin set career highs last year with 15 appearances, 29 catches, 68 targets and 431 yards. He also matched a personal watermark with three touchdowns.
Our own Dallas Robinson suggested that the 49ers should pursue some new offensive weapons this offseason, and they’ve done that so far. The team signed fellow free agent wideout Pierre Garcon earlier today, and the duo should team up nicely with new quarterback Brian Hoyer.
Besides the two additions, the 49ers also have a number of other wideouts on the roster, including Jeremy Kerley, Aaron Burbridge, Bruce Ellington, and Chris Harper.