49ers Announce Coaching Hires
- In addition to confirming several previously-reported hires, the 49ers announced another wave of coaching staff additions tonight. The list of new coaches includes Jeff Hafley (defensive backs), Johnny Holland (linebackers), Jason Tarver (senior defensive assistant) and Bobby Slowik (defensive quality control). Tarver, a former coordinator at the NFL level, is a holdover but is shifting away from LBs coach in order for San Francisco to add Holland, a former Cleveland coach.
- The Broncos have granted the 49ers permission to interview John Benton for their vacant offensive line position, as Klis reports in a separate piece. Denver hired Benton as its assistant offensive line coach last month, but obviously he hasn’t actually worked with any Broncos players as of yet. Benton has worked with new San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan in the past, as the pair was employed by Houston from 2006-09.
49ers Not Searching For Short-Term QB
The 49ers have been mentioned as a possible landing spot for veteran quarterbacks such as Jay Cutler and Matt Schaub, but had coach Kyle Shanahan said today that he’s not interested in simply acquiring an interim solution.
[RELATED: 49ers Could Have Interest In Jay Cutler]
“When you make a decision on a quarterback, you don’t want that to just be a short-term fix,” Shanahan told reporters, including Cam Inman of the Mercury News. “You want to make a commitment to somebody. In order to do that, you better make sure you’re on the same page with everyone else and you put the time in, you talk to people who’ve been with these guys.”
Shanahan’s view would seemingly rule out pursuits of aging players like Cutler and Schaub (unless one was brought into to serve as a bridge quarterback while a younger passer developed), but it wouldn’t eliminate Kirk Cousins or Jimmy Garoppolo from San Francisco’s radar. Linked to both players, the 49ers would have to commit both draft compensation and financial capital in order to acquire either Cousins or Garoppolo, which is essentially the definition of Shanahan’s “commitment.”
Holding the second overall pick in the draft, the 49ers also have the option of selecting a collegiate quarterback. UNC’s Mitch Trubisky, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, and Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer could be in consideration with the No. 2 pick, while San Francisco could took a look at Patrick Mahomes (Texas Tech) or Brad Kaaya (Miami) on Day 2. The Niners won’t force a quarterback pick, however, as Shanahan stated in a separate interview on KNBR that his club will take the best available player.
“If there is a quarterback there that we believe can match that criteria and we believe he can be a franchise quarterback for us, of course, you don’t hesitate on that,” Shanahan said, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “But if you don’t see that and there are other good players – if there’s a pass-rusher, a linebacker, if there’s an O-lineman, whatever it is – you need to get the best player possible who can help your team for the next 10 years.”
49ers Hire Asst. Secondary Coach Daniel Bullocks
Free agent cornerback K’Waun Williams will take his visit with the Vikings next Tuesday, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN. Williams, 25, had meetings with the Lions and Jets earlier this week, and is expected to convene with the Dolphins and 49ers at some point, as well. After starting 10 total games during his first two years in the NFL, Williams was sidelined for all of 2016 thanks to an ankle injury.
- The Vikings have are expected to hire former Purdue and Kent State head coach Darrell Hazell as their new wide receivers coach, according to Alex Marvez of the Sporting News (Twitter link). Hazell, who was fired only six games into the Boilermakers’ 2016 campaign, has a career NCAA record of 25-43. Internal offensive assistant Drew Petzing was also thought to be a candidate for the position, but instead it’s Hazell who will replace George Stewart, who left for Los Angeles.
- The 49ers are hiring Daniel Bullocks as their assistant secondary coach, per Marvez (Twitter link). Bullocks worked in the same role for Jacksonville last season, and previously coached in the collegiate ranks.
Redskins Considered Letting Kirk Cousins Test Free Agency
Earlier this offseason, the Redskins were “of a mind” to let quarterback Kirk Cousins hit free agency in order to let the open market determine his financial value, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. Washington’s view on Cousins has seemingly changed now that Cousins backers Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay are now in head coaching positions and could theoretically take a run at the Redskins quarterback, per Breer.
[RELATED: 2017 Franchise Tag Candidates]
Progress between Washington and Cousins has been slow in recent weeks, and within the Redskins’ front office there is some “internal resistance” to the concept of using the franchise tag on Cousins for the second consecutive season. Per Breer, some Washington executives believe that giving Cousins nearly $24MM for the 2017 campaign would hinder negotiations with the sixth-year pro, as Cousins would be unlikely to accept a lower annual salary after setting $24MM as a baseline.
In sum, the Redskins seem incredibly unlikely to allow Cousins to reach free agency, and will probably use the franchise tender if now long-term deal is reached. Washington’s concern over San Francisco poaching Cousins if he heads to the market unfettered aren’t unfounded, as Cousins is reportedly Plan A for the 49ers at quarterback. A Los Angeles pursuit makes less sense, as the Rams just drafted Jared Goff first overall in last year’s draft.
In his two years as a starter, Cousins has helped the Redskins to plus-.500 seasons – including a 9-7, NFC East-winning showing in 2015 – while flourishing statistically. Cousins is coming off a year in which he completed 67 percent of passes, nearly reached the 5,000-yard mark (4,917), and tossed 25 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.
Patrick Willis Not Considering Comeback
At the age of 32, Patrick Willis is in great shape and looks like he could still play football. Is the former 49ers linebacker thinking about making a comeback?
“That inclination (to play) only comes for a split second,” he said (via Daniel Brown of the Bay Area News Group). “And then it’s, ‘Nope, nope, I’m cool.”’
- Although they’ve primarily run a 3-4 front in years past, the 49ers are expected to deploy a 4-3 scheme under new defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Given that Saleh had worked under Gus Bradley for the past six seasons, it’s unsurprising that he wants to use a 4-3 look, but the shift could potentially affect what players San Francisco targets in free agency and the draft. The 49ers’ personnel searches have been geared towards a 3-4 scheme for more than a decade.
Williams To Visit Dolphins, 49ers, Vikings
K’Waun Williams has quite the free agent tour set up for himself. In addition to visits with the Lions and Jets, Williams is also slated to visit the Dolphins, 49ers, and Vikings this week, according to ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein (on Twitter). Of course, those visits could also be 86’d if Williams immediately strikes a deal with either Detroit or New York. 
Williams arrived in Detroit on Monday and will touch down in the New York/New Jersey area on Tuesday night. If he doesn’t have a contract after wrapping up his visit with the Jets on Wednesday, he’ll continue meeting with clubs.
As a rare February free agent, Williams has a bit of added value for teams who are looking into a low-cost solution at slot cornerback. Williams’ next deal is likely to come as a one-year pact, so he is presumably looking for a situation where he can maximize his playing time and increase his value for next offseason. He probably won’t get a fully guaranteed roster spot, but he could conceivably get a small partial guarantee on his salary if enough clubs show interest.
Williams had surgery to remove bone spurs in his ankle back in November. He recently received full clearance from Dr. Robert Anderson.
49ers Staff Notes: Embree, Sutulovich
- Elsewhere on the 49ers’ staff, the team has interviewed Falcons assistant special teams coach Eric Sutulovich to become its special teams coordinator, per Marvez (Twitter link). Caplan reported last week that the Niners were likely to meet with Sutulovich.
- The 49ers have landed ex-Buccaneers tight ends coach Jon Embree as an assistant head coach/TEs coach, writes Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle. His son, Taylor Embree, is coming aboard as a quality control coach. The younger Embree spent last season as a defensive assistant in Kansas City.
- Elsewhere on the 49ers’ staff, the team has interviewed Falcons assistant special teams coach Eric Sutulovich to become its special teams coordinator, per Marvez (Twitter link). Caplan reported last week that the Niners were likely to meet with Sutulovich.
Lorenzo Alexander To Get $10MM Per Year?
On the heels of a shockingly effective season in which he earned a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors, journeyman linebacker Lorenzo Alexander is preparing to land a significant raise in free agency, as CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora writes in a piece that’s worth a full read. Alexander could end up with a short-term contract worth $5MM to $10MM per year, his agent, Peter Schaffer, told La Canfora.
The success Alexander had in 2016 with the Bills was completely unexpected, as evidenced by the fact that the longtime special teamer had to settle for a minimum salary benefit deal last April. Alexander went on to find a home in now-former Bills head coach Rex Ryan‘s defense, though, as he notched 76 tackles, 12.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception in his age-33 season. Remarkably, Alexander entered 2016 having combined for nine sacks, four forced fumbles and no picks over the first nine years of his career, which he divided among the Redskins, Cardinals and Raiders.
Since his breakout season in Buffalo concluded, Alexander has stated that the Bills want him back, but he’s noncommittal about where he’ll play in 2017. Alexander, who’s listed at 245 pounds, would like to stay at his 2016 playing weight (235), he told La Canfora, who names a return to the Redskins, a reunion with ex-Washington defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in Cleveland, or a deal with the 49ers as possibilities. Staying close to his native Oakland would be a boon for Alexander, per La Canfora, which could tip the scales in the 49ers’ favor.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Colin Kaepernick Switching Agents
49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has parted ways with XAM Sports, the agency that had represented him since he entered the NFL in 2011, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. It’s currently unknown which agency Kaepernick will tab to replace XAM, but it’s clear someone else will negotiate his next contract if he opts out of his current deal in the coming weeks.
As a client of XAM, Kaepernick inked a six-year, $114MM extension with the 49ers in 2014, when he and the franchise were among the NFL’s upper echelon. Kaepernick’s on-field output has gone downhill in the three seasons since, and the 49ers have cratered over the past two years in the wake of former head coach Jim Harbaugh‘s exit.
The Niners won just two games last season and will try to turn around their fortunes with a rookie general manager, John Lynch, and a first-time head coach, Kyle Shanahan. Those two will have a decision to make at quarterback, where they could target an upgrade over Kaepernick, who is facing a March 2 deadline to opt out of his contract. Lynch spoke glowingly last week of Kaepernick, who reached out to the ex-FOX analyst shortly after San Francisco hired him.
“Colin and I, when I did some 49ers games, I’d say we hit it off,” Lynch said. “I’d say there was a trust there. I think that trust extends, and I was thrilled when he reached out. I’m looking forward to talking with him.
Kaepernick has earned more than $40MM since signing his extension, notes Barrows, who adds that the 29-year-old enlisted the help of Jeff Nalley of Select Sports Group – not XAM – to renegotiate the accord last year. The six-year veteran is now undecided on whether he’ll opt out of the amended contract. The Lynch-led 49ers could essentially make the call for Kaepernick and cut him, which would save the already cap space-rich team $16.9MM in spending room for 2017. However, there’s also the possibility they’ll bring him back on a less expensive pact.
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49ers To Hire Robert Saleh As DC
Former Jaguars linebackers coach Robert Saleh is expected to join the 49ers as defensive coordinator, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It was previously reported that Saleh was being considered for a “co-defensive coordinator” role with Falcons defensive passing game coordinator Jerome Henderson, but this job will be Saleh’s alone.
Many thought Saleh would follow former Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley and join the Chargers’ staff, but the 49ers came through with a better offer and title. Saleh, 38, has been in the NFL coaching world since 2006. In addition to his time with the Jaguars, he also has experience with the Titans and Seahawks.
San Francisco previously targeted Bradley for this job and also tried to interview Bears DC Vic Fangio, but they were denied permission by Chicago. Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores was also mentioned as a candidate. Ultimately, Saleh has the gig and he’ll be tasked with turning around the league’s worst defense.