49ers To Sign P Pressley Harvin III
After spending the past three seasons as the Steelers’ punter, Pressley Harvin III hit the waiver wire this offseason. The fourth-year specialist found another gig Friday morning.
The 49ers are adding Harvin to their 90-man roster, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Sixth-year 49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky is dealing with an injury, creating an immediate — though, perhaps not pressing due to the regular season being a month away — need at this specialty spot.
Pittsburgh parted ways with Harvin in mid-February and signed recent Texans punter Cameron Johnston a month later. A 2021 seventh-round pick, Harvin punted in 47 games for the Steelers from 2021-23. He beat out Braden Mann to keep the Pittsburgh punting gig last summer but averaged just 43.8 yards per punt in 2023. This was a step down from 2022, when the netted 44.5 yards per boot. Among regulars, Harvin’s 2023 average ranked as the NFL’s second-worst mark last season.
San Francisco’s punter of the past five seasons, Wishnowsky is dealing with a knee injury that has forced him out of practice in recent days. Kyle Shanahan said recently the team would need to address this situation before the preseason opener. A 2019 fourth-round pick, Wishnowsky is signed through the 2026 season.
While Wishnowsky’s job does not appear at risk, the 49ers will need to execute punts (presumably) in their August debut. With no other punter on the roster coming into today, Harvin now appears set to handle that workload against the Titans on Saturday.
Steelers’ Trade, Extension Offers Underwhelming 49ers, Brandon Aiyuk?
8:15pm: The Steelers are now waiting on the 49ers to see if an agreement can still be reached, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette. A main reason for the hold up, he adds, is the fact San Francisco wants a receiver as part of the package in return. Pittsburgh is not able to meet that request, but The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds the 49ers are “open” to taking back players at another position. It will be interesting to see if that flexibility will keep the door open to an Aiyuk swap being worked out.
8:41am: One of the most discussed receiver offseasons this side of Antonio Brown‘s 2019, the Brandon Aiyuk saga remains in a holding pattern. The second-team All-Pro is still a 49er, holding in as he angles for a contract that — for now, at least — San Francisco has deemed unreasonable.
While the Patriots are believed to have prepared a big extension offer as they and the Browns discussed the disgruntled wideout with the 49ers, the Steelers have re-emerged. Although the Steelers have traded the likes of Brown, Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and Santonio Holmes, they are not known for splashy trades that bring in pass catchers. But they are still in the Aiyuk mix.
A Wednesday report indicated Aiyuk is interested in joining the Steelers, but they may not be offering what would be necessary on either front here. As far as Pittsburgh’s offers (in terms of trade compensation and extension-wise), Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes neither are overly high. The trade offer appealing to the 49ers would not stand to make the latter number matter much to the NFC West club, as the John Lynch-led front office has negotiated with Aiyuk for months. No real progress is believed to have emerged, pointing to San Francisco establishing a clear value on its 2023 receiving leader.
The Steelers are not believed to be interested in sending the 49ers any players for Aiyuk, though they do have a recent history of parting with a first-round pick in a trade. Pittsburgh sent Miami its 2020 first-round pick for Minkah Fitzpatrick — in a trade that also sent picks back to the Steelers — early during the 2019 season. That came under GM Kevin Colbert, who was a bit more hesitant about outside acquisitions compared to successor Omar Khan. The latter was in Pittsburgh’s front office when Fitzpatrick was acquired.
An extension represents the key difference between the Fitzpatrick move and what an Aiyuk swap would require. The Steelers would need to not only part with high-end draft capital to obtain Aiyuk and would also need to work out a monster extension — almost definitely one that would make the fifth-year player a top-five receiver in terms of AAV and guarantees — as part of the deal or soon after. The 49ers’ known offer(s) have come in around the $26-$27MM-per-year mark, prompting this hold-in. It is unclear what San Francisco has proposed in terms of guaranteed money, though Aiyuk is believed to be angling for an A.J. Brown-level commitment. The Eagles gave Brown $84MM guaranteed in April; only Justin Jefferson ($110MM) has topped that.
Pittsburgh’s Johnson trade has cleared the decks on offense; no Steeler offensive talent is tied to an eight-figure-per-year contract. Pat Freiermuth is on the team’s extension radar, however, and George Pickens will become extension-eligible in 2025. Although the Steelers do not have a notable quarterback number on their payroll, Pickens is moving close to becoming quite expensive. That would stand to complicate a monster Aiyuk extension offer.
The 49ers would likely need to see an eye-opening trade proposal to part with a player who can help them win an elusive Super Bowl. Amari Cooper being mentioned in a Browns swap would intrigue on that front, but the Steelers have dominated Aiyuk trade talk since the Cleveland connection surfaced. Absent difference-making trade terms, the 49ers may well play this out and keep Aiyuk on his fifth-year option — with a tag-and-trade move in 2025 conceivably on the table as well. We continue to wait on anything happening here.
49ers Sign DE Jonathan Garvin
In the wake of Drake Jackson being shut down for the 2024 campaign, the 49ers have made an addition along the edge. Jonathan Garvin has been added on a one-year deal, per his agency. 
Garvin is among the players who have parlayed a strong showing in the UFL into a new opportunity at the NFL level. The 25-year-old played a key role on the league champion Birmingham Stallions, collecting 3.5 sacks this season. He worked out for the Cowboys in June, but that did not produce a deal. Now, Garvin will head to the Bay Area to finish training camp and the preseason.
The former seventh-rounder began his NFL career with the Packers, spending three seasons with the team. His best year came in 2021, when he logged a 39% defensive snap share and totaled 1.5 sacks. He will compete for a similar rotational role upon arrival in San Francisco, a team with the top of the edge depth chart relatively sorted out even with Jackson no longer in the picture.
Nick Bosa is set to remain the focal point of San Francisco’s defense and occupy one starting spot at the defensive end position. The team added Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos in free agency, and they will continue competing for playing time opposite Bosa in the coming weeks. Garvin will provide another option in a backup capacity if he manages to survive roster cutdowns at the end of the month.
The 49ers entered Thursday with over $52MM in cap space, leaving the team with plenty of flexibility to make additions. That total will drop slightly with Robbie Chosen now in the fold, along with Garvin. Both players will no doubt be attached to league-minimum pacts as they attempt to return to a regular NFL role.
49ers DE Drake Jackson Out For Season
Drake Jackson will be sidelined for the 2024 campaign as he continues to recover from a knee injury. The third-year defensive end has been placed on the reserve/PUP list, per a team announcement. 
Players moved to the active/PUP list at the start of training camp are permitted to be activated and return to practice at any time. The reserve/PUP designation, however, guarantees players are out for the entire campaign, just like injured reserve at this point in the offseason. Jackson’s absence will be felt along the edge for San Francisco.
The former second-rounder was limited to eight games last season due to the injury, and an update from earlier this week noted he would be absent for at least the remainder of training camp. Today’s news is a notable step beyond that, and it means Jackson’s attention will need to turn to the 2025 campaign. That year doubles as the end of his rookie contract.
San Francisco has depended on Nick Bosa as an anchor on the edge, but Jackson was drafted to turn into a full-time starter to complement him. The latter posted three sacks as a rookie, matching that total in the first half of the 2023 campaign. He will face questions about his health and ability to produce on a consistent basis once he returns to full health.
The 49ers signed Leonard Floyd in free agency, and the veteran is positioned to operate as a first-teamer in 2024. San Francisco also added Yetur Gross-Matos on a two-year deal this offseason as part of a general strategy aimed at providing relative stability along the edge. Jackson would have been counted on to at least hold down a rotational role this season, so it will be interesting to see if a late-summer addition is made in the wake of his injury.
The team has over $52MM in cap space, flexibility which could allow for a move to be made in the near future. Anyone brought in at this point will face a short ramp-up period given how close Week 1 is, though. Jackson, 23, will need to make considerable progress in the coming months as he aims to return to the field next year. His designation created the roster spot needed for the 49ers’ signing of safety Tracy Walker to become official.
49ers To Add WR Robbie Chosen
Brandon Aiyuk remains a 49er, but he is not practicing. Frustrated by his contract situation for months, Aiyuk remains a hold-in. As a result, the 49ers are bringing in a veteran.
San Francisco is adding Robbie Chosen, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Known more in recent years for his name changes, Chosen has starter experience and, per Pelissero, received interest elsewhere. After working out for the 49ers, the former Jets and Panthers starter will receive another opportunity.
[RELATED: 49ers, Aiyuk Underwhelmed By Steelers’ Offers?]
The Seahawks hosted Chosen earlier this offseason, but ESPN.com’s Field Yates notes the 49ers brought him in for an audition Wednesday. Chosen follows Tracy Walker as recent 49ers tryout invitees to receive a contract offer. Walker signed with the team late Wednesday night. The other player invited for a workout, safety Rudy Ford, has not signed.
The former Robby Anderson, Robbie Anderson and Chosen Anderson is now 31 and is coming off an unremarkable Dolphins stint. Though, a 68-yard touchdown grab in Miami’s 70-20 demolition of Denver led to an interesting four-catch, 126-yard stat line from last season. The Panthers rostered Chosen from 2020-22 but traded him shortly after Matt Rhule, Chosen’s college HC while at Temple, was fired. The deep threat produced a 1,000-yard season in 2020, leading to a two-year, $29.5MM Carolina extension, and flashed as a deep threat during his Jets tenure. At this point, however, Chosen would qualify as a depth option.
Beginning camp without Ricky Pearsall healthy, the 49ers have since seen the first-rounder return to practice. The defending NFC champions still have Deebo Samuel and the recently extended Jauan Jennings in uniform, and Ronnie Bell and fourth-round rookie Jacob Cowing are rostered as well. The team also signed Chris Conley and brought back Trent Taylor this offseason, but Chosen will be asked to contribute as well. With 16-man practice squads in place, Chosen could compete for a spot there if he is unable to land a 53-man spot.
Latest On Steelers, Brandon Aiyuk
The Steelers remain a team to watch closely with respect to Brandon Aiyuk. The 49ers wideout has drawn considerable attention in recent days, but plenty is unresolved at this time. 
Pittsburgh is one of a number of teams engaged in ongoing negotiations with San Francisco, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. The Steelers were not initially mentioned in Monday’s report regarding the framework being worked out on a trade. The Browns were named in that respect, along with the Patriots. New England is now believed to be out of the running, however.
The Patriots do not represent Aiyuk’s intended landing spot, something which may be the case for the Steelers. Pittsburgh has long been considered a contender to land the 26-year-old, and the team re-engaged in negotiations in the wake of Cleveland and New England making progress. While this situation remains fluid, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette confirms no agreement – formal or informal – is currently in place between the Steelers and 49ers.
Dulac adds that if a trade is to be worked out for Aiyuk, the Steelers will not include any players in the package coming back to San Francisco. Cleveland’s ability to acquire the Arizona State alum could require Amari Cooper heading the other way, but no comparable wideout exists for the Steelers. Pittsburgh already traded away Diontae Johnson earlier in the offseason.
That move (which was followed up by the release of Allen Robinson) has led to many naming the Steelers as a logical landing spot for a receiver. Aiyuk would certainly add considerable pedigree to a WR room led by George Pickens and third-round rookie Roman Wilson at the position as things stand. Pittsburgh is expected to rely on a run-heavy approach under new OC Arthur Smith in 2024, but Aiyuk has a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns to his name.
San Francisco entertained trade calls for both the former first-rounder and Deebo Samuel at the draft, though no deals were struck. The 49ers have several big-money commitments on offense already, and quarterback Brock Purdy will be eligible for an extension next offseason. Aiyuk is due $14.12MM in 2024 on the fifth-year option, but an extension will check in at a much higher rate.
The Patriots were reportedly willing to eclipse $28MM per season on a multi-year deal, and a New England agreement would have served the notable purpose (from San Francisco’s perspective) of sending him to an AFC team. Despite not having a no-trade clause, Aiyuk’s preference in this case appears to carry notable weight. Whether a potential desire to continue his career in Pittsburgh results in a trade will continue to be a top storyline for the Steelers and 49ers.
49ers To Sign S Tracy Walker
The 49ers’ depth at the safety position took a hit this offseason when veteran starter Tashaun Gipson departed in free agency. With a young, new up-and-comer in Ji’Ayir Brown and the veteran ballhawk reaching 34 years old, a return to San Francisco was unlikely. That has been capitalized by the likely addition of veteran safety Tracy Walker, reported late today by The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. 
Barrows announces that San Francisco plans to add the former Lions defensive back tomorrow, when they will have to prepare an accompanying roster move to make room for Walker. The team did its homework on veteran safeties earlier in the offseason, hosting Rayshawn Jenkins and Julian Blackmon, but they ended up signing with the Seahawks and Colts, respectively.
Walker was a third-round pick for the Lions back in 2018 after an impressive four-year stretch for the Ragin’ Cajuns in Louisiana. After Walker came off the bench in his rookie season behind Glover Quin and Quandre Diggs, the offseason release of Quin allowed Walker to step up as a full-time starter in his sophomore campaign. He struggled to hold down the starting job in 2020, splitting time with Jayron Kearse in the role, but returned to start 15 games in 2021. A torn Achilles tendon cost Walker most of his 2022 season.
Last year, Walker seemingly lost his starting job on the Lions defense. Coming back from the Achilles injury, Walker started five of Detroit’s first seven games. Young safeties Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu ended up taking over as the starters as the season went on. Walker was released by Detroit as a result, freeing up a good amount of cap space for the Lions.
Luckily, San Francisco doesn’t need Walker to come in as a starter. The 49ers are looking forward to the eventual return of former All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga, who missed the final seven games of 2023 with a torn ACL. Hufanga aims to return in time for the team’s season-opener, but in case there are any speed bumps along the road back to the field, Walker provides the 49ers with some starting experience next to Brown.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/7/24
Wednesday’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DE Andre Carter, DE Joshua Pryor
- Placed on IR: DE Cameron Sample (story)
- Waived: P Austin McNamara, WR Tre Mosley
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DE Brevin Allen, K Alex Hale
- Waived (with injury designation): CB Don Callis, WR Rory Starkey
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: C Ryan Coll
- Placed on IR: C Wesley French
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Mike Harley Jr.
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL Mark Evans II
- Waived: TE Mason Fairchild
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Deon Jackson
- Waived: WR Hamze El-Zayat
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed off waivers (from Commanders): TE Armani Rogers
- Waived: WR Shaq Davis
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Easton Gibbs
- Waived (with injury designation): LB Tyler Murray
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Jontre Kirklin, RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Terique Owens
- Released: S Erik Harris
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Kyon Barrs
- Reverted to IR: LB Josh Onujiogu
- Waived (with an injury designation): WR Marcus Simms
Washington Commanders
- Signed: T Alex Taylor-Prioleau
The Packers apparently felt it necessary to add another competitor to their position battle at kicker today, signing Hale out of Oklahoma State. The former walk-on from Australia hit on 43 of his 54 field goal attempts as a Cowboy in Stillwater.
Following the retirement of Tarik Cohen, the Jets opted to sign Jackson. The former Colts rusher had some big moments in 2022 while filling in for an injured Jonathan Taylor. He and Vaughn were both participants in a recent workout with the Texans, but Cam Akers walked away from that day with the job.
Lastly, Owens’, son of NFL legend Terrell Owens, time with one of his father’s former teams has come to an end. His pedigree may have assisted in landing an opportunity as an undrafted free agent in San Francisco, but he was unable to stay rostered throughout camp.
Patriots’ Brandon Aiyuk Offer Eclipsed $28MM Per Year; WR Wants To Land With Steelers?
In on Calvin Ridley until the end of his free agency sweepstakes, the Patriots have been connected to both Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. New England’s Aiyuk effort became rather serious, though as of midday Wednesday, it does not look like the disgruntled 49er will end up a Patriot.
This is not due to lack of desire on the Pats’ part. The team was prepared to give Aiyuk an extension worth more than $28.5MM per year, according to veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson. Aiyuk does not hold a no-trade clause, but a team willing to trade assets for the second-team All-Pro will want the pass catcher committed. A report Tuesday night revealed Aiyuk was not sold on the Patriots, and Anderson also indicates the team believes this is the case.
The Steelers do not make a habit of giving outside receiver hires key roles, preferring a draft-and-develop model that has produced sustained success. But the team has been more open to outside additions under third-year GM Omar Khan. Questions outside of George Pickens persist at wideout for the Steelers, who are spending next to nothing at quarterback following the acquisitions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. This expands to all positions on offense, essentially, with no eight-figure-per-year payment allocated to a Pittsburgh offensive player.
No deal is in place with Pittsburgh, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz tweets, though the sides continue to hold discussions.
Aiyuk, 26, has held in at 49ers training camp. This comes after months of negotiations did not lead to much (if any) progress. Aiyuk has been tied to wanting a deal in step with Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s $30.01MM-per-year contract and guarantees on the A.J. Brown level. Only Justin Jefferson‘s $110MM guaranteed tops Brown’s number ($84MM). Aiyuk has not shown himself to be in these players’ class just yet, ranking 17th in receiving yards since his 2020 NFL entrance. Though, the 49ers’ target tree has not allowed for WR1-level volume. Aiyuk still managed 1,342 receiving yards on 105 targets last season, and he wants to be paid like a high-end No. 1 weapon.
A Monday report indicated the Patriots and Browns had established Aiyuk trade framework with the 49ers, but multiple suitors being in the mix gives the defending NFC champions leverage. New England also asked about Aiyuk earlier this offseason. Aiyuk’s manageable fifth-year option salary ($14.12MM) would stand to buy the 49ers time, and they would have the option of franchise-tagging him in 2025. That number could hit $25MM, and San Francisco is already projected to be nearly $40MM over the 2025 cap. While that would not make an Aiyuk tag a non-starter, it certainly appears the 49ers are more willing to discuss a deal — as they were during the draft — compared to their stance earlier this summer.
The Titans outbid the Pats for Ridley, who signed a four-year deal worth $92MM in free agency. New England, amid a spree of re-signings and extensions this offseason, kept Kendrick Bourne and used a second-round pick on Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk. These two join Demario Douglas as the Pats’ top options at receiver, though JuJu Smith-Schuster remains on the team for the time being. De facto GM Eliot Wolf has shown a far greater willingness to pay for talent compared to Bill Belichick, and this Aiyuk offer goes along with this organizational change.
Trading Aiyuk without a known replacement — Ricky Pearsall‘s rookie-year form notwithstanding — would inject considerable risk into San Francisco’s equation. The team has Brock Purdy on what almost definitely will be his final season on a rookie contract, and a host of defensive talent is due for free agency in 2025. Losing Aiyuk now would wound a 49ers team perennially on the championship doorstep. It would also reveal the NFC West team taking a hardline stance on Aiyuk’s value, which it is believed to have pegged in the $26-$27MM-per-year range.
While the 49ers solved Samuel’s trade request/hold-in drama with a $23.85MM-per-year extension, they have encountered tougher sledding in the Aiyuk negotiations — as the WR market has boomed once again. If Aiyuk is dealt, Samuel suddenly would appear more likely to stay. An Aiyuk extension could well lead the older, more versatile player out of town in 2025. We continue to wait on whether the 49ers will pull the trigger here, as Aiyuk’s hold-in will soon pass the two-week point.
Steelers Re-Engage In Brandon Aiyuk Trade Talks; Patriots Out On 49ers WR
9:18pm: The Patriots have removed themselves from the Aiyuk sweepstakes. According to Schefter, New England has “decided not to explore any further trade possibilities” with the 49ers. The reporter adds that the Patriots are “excited” about their young wideouts and want to “focus on them.” That grouping includes 2023 sixth-round picks DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte, plus 2024 draft picks Ja’Lynn Polk (second round) and Javon Baker (fourth round).
While the Patriots may be touting their youth, it may not have been the team’s decision to pivot from an Aiyuk trade. According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, the Patriots had a deal in place with the 49ers but Aiyuk didn’t show interest in going to New England.
2:50pm: Tuesday has provided further developments on the Brandon Aiyuk front. The 49ers wideout continues his hold-in effort while multiple teams are engaged in trade negotiations.
It was learned last night that the framework of an agreement had been worked out between San Francisco and both Cleveland and New England. That has left the Browns and Patriots as teams to watch closely, but they are not the only ones still in the running. The Steelers re-engaged in talks earlier today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Pittsburgh has frequently been mentioned as a landing spot for Aiyuk this offseason. The 26-year-old named Pittsburgh (along with Washington) as a destination which interested him, although his public remarks at that time suggested he would remain in the Bay Area for 2024. Since then, extension talks with the 49ers have not progressed, fueling Aiyuk’s formal trade request and his subsequent hold-in efforts.
The Steelers traded Diontae Johnson to the Panthers this offseason, one in which veteran Allen Robinson was released. While the team did select Roman Wilson in the third round of the draft, adding an accomplished wideout has long been named as a remaining team priority. General manager Omar Khan recently said no moves on that front were imminent, but remaining in the hunt for Aiyuk means Pittsburgh could still manage to swing a deal.
As for the Steelers’ competition in the Aiyuk sweepstakes, the Patriots remain a contender as they have been for quite some time. New England was among the teams which discussed a receiver trade with San Francisco at the draft, although the subject at that time was Deebo Samuel. The 49ers’ other starting wideout has two years remaining on his contract, whereas Aiyuk is attached to the fifth-year option for the coming campaign. The Arizona State product is seeking a long-term deal at a price higher than what San Francisco is willing to authorize, and the latest wave of trade discussion has led to the expectation a trade will be more likely than a 49ers resolution.
Notably, veteran NFL insider Josina Anderson reports the Patriots have not upped their offer from where it has been “for a while.” The Browns’ ability to acquire Aiyuk would hinge on draft capital added to an offer including five-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper. Cooper had his Cleveland accord enhanced recently, but he remains a pending free agent. Adding him to the mix would nevertheless represent a win-now move from the 49ers’ perspective, something which must be kept in mind given their Super Bowl window being open at the moment.
Echoing his reporting from Monday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo states a trade remains a distinct possibility in this case relative to where things stood in previous days (video link). He notes the sense that a deal is getting “closer,” while adding no team can safely be considered out of the running altogether. How the Steelers, Patriots and Browns in particular proceed in the immediate future will thus remain worth watching closely.
Of course, at least two other teams are believed to be prepared to meet Aiyuk’s asking price, which will likely check in around $30MM per season as a result of the latest surge in the WR market. Aiyuk has a pecking order in terms of preferred landing spots, per Garafolo, although without a no-trade clause he does not have the power to veto a deal. Whether or not a final trade agreement will be struck remains a critical unanswered question as training camps roll on.