HEADLINES

49ers Rumors

NFC West Notes: Carter, Cards, Rams, 49ers

May 10th, 2023 at 11:47am CST by Sam Robinson

Closely connected to Jalen Carter ahead of the draft, the Seahawks decided to select Devon Witherspoon at No. 5. The Lions were believed to be targeting the Illinois cornerback at No. 6, and Tyler Dunne of GoLongTD.com notes the Seahawks were pleased rumors circulated they were eyeing Carter at 5. That said, some among the Seahawks did make a late push for the Georgia defensive tackle, per Dunne, who adds some teams viewed the polarizing prospect as “unapologetic” regarding the off-field incident that docked his draft stock. Carter faced misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing — in connection with a fatal crash that killed two members of Georgia’s football program in January — but said he did not encounter extensive questioning from teams about the January scene. The Eagles are not believed to have inquired deeply about the event.

Pete Carroll was believed to be onboard with the Seahawks drafting Carter, but the team passed on one of this draft’s top talents. They were not alone in doing so. The Lions were prepared to draft Jahmyr Gibbs over Carter, before the Cardinals sent them a trade offer for 6, and the Raiders and Falcons passed as well. The Bears, who were eyeing D-line additions in the draft, traded out of No. 9 to allow the Eagles to land this class’ top D-tackle. Here is the latest from the NFC West:

  • The Cardinals‘ trade-up to No. 6 completed their Paris Johnson acquisition effort. After being tied to the Ohio State prospect in the days leading up to the draft, Arizona will likely move him into its starting lineup immediately. Johnson earned his high prospect ranking as a tackle, but Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic notes the Cardinals have not determined if the ex-Buckeyes blocker will start his pro career at tackle or guard. Johnson played guard in both 2020 and ’21, being a full-time starter at that position as a sophomore, before sliding to left tackle last season. The Cards have both their top tackles — D.J. Humphries and Kelvin Beachum — under contract and re-signed Will Hernandez this offseason. Josh Jones, a guard who slid to tackle to replace an injured Humphries, remains rostered as well. Regardless of where Johnson starts his career, he is expected to become the Cards’ long-term left tackle, McManaman adds.
  • Staying on the topic of Cardinals positional uncertainty, Zaven Collins began working as an edge rusher when the team convened for its offseason work, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com notes. The 2021 first-round pick spent his first two NFL seasons as an off-ball linebacker, but the Cardinals have Isaiah Simmons and the recently added Kyzir White — who followed HC Jonathan Gannon from Philadelphia — at the ILB spots. While Collins played 785 snaps at linebacker last season, he did line up as a D-lineman on 182 plays.
  • With Gannon and Cards DC Nick Rallis departing Philly, the Eagles hired Matt Patricia. Prior to that relocation, Patricia spoke with the Rams about a role on Sean McVay‘s staff, Albert Breer of SI.com writes. Patricia, who interviewed for the Broncos’ DC job and was on the radar for another role on Sean Payton‘s staff, has only previously coached for two teams (the Patriots and Lions) throughout a 19-year NFL career.
  • The 49ers added Brandon Allen as their fourth quarterback. While Allen would not be part of San Francisco’s active roster if every other QB on the team was fully healthy, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco notes the team gave the ex-Bengals QB2 $200K guaranteed. Allen spent most of the past three seasons as Joe Burrow‘s backup. While the 49ers have Brock Purdy, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold on their roster, Purdy is not expected to be cleared until potentially September and Lance has been involved in trade rumors to the point John Lynch felt compelled to address those with the former No. 3 overall pick.

49ers Sign DL Marlon Davidson, Re-Sign TE Troy Fumagalli

May 8th, 2023 at 1:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 49ers confirmed on Monday that they have inked veteran quarterback Brandon Allen to a one-year deal. Two other additions have been made to their roster.

San Francisco has added Marlon Davidson to their defensive line rotation. The 24-year-old visited the 49ers in December, so it comes as little surprise that a deal has now been struck. Davidson entered the league with high expectations after a productive career at Auburn, but he was unable to translate his success to the NFL level in his first home.

A second-round pick of the Falcons, Davidson started just one of 19 games in Atlanta during his first two seasons there. He recorded only one sack, leaving his short- and long-term future with the team in doubt entering 2022. Knee surgery left him sidelined to begin the year, and Atlanta moved on in October. Davidson did not find a landing spot for the remainder of the campaign, so question marks remain about his recovery and ability to live up to his potential in the Bay Area.

The 49ers have already taken a flier on ex-Raider Clelin Ferrell this offseason, as the former top-five pick looks to rebuild his value. The same will now be true of Davidson, as he looks to carve out a role along a defensive front which added Javon Hargrave on a big-money deal in free agency. A strong showing in 2023 could boost his efforts to land a longer-term pact next offseason, with the 49ers or another interested team.

San Francisco also announced the return of tight end Troy Fumagalli. The 28-year-old signed with the 49ers last May, but was among the team’s final roster cuts in August. He then spent time on their practice squad, making him a familiar face as he hopes to crack the 53-man roster this time around. Fumagalli’s only regular season experience to date has come with the Broncos, but he will look to carve establish a role for himself in a TE room headed by George Kittle and which saw the addition of third-rounder Cameron Latu as well as seventh-rounder Brayden Willis during the draft.

49ers Rumors: Lance, McKivitz, Snead, Staff

May 6th, 2023 at 3:53pm CST by Ely Allen

There’s been a swirl of rumors recently amongst 49ers quarterback Trey Lance as San Francisco does its usual quarterback shuffle. Some reports have the former No. 3 overall pick getting traded, while others have him staying pat.

The team reportedly views last year’s Irrelevant rookie Brock Purdy as their optimal starter, but Purdy isn’t expected to be healthy until much closer to the start of the season. In the meantime, the 49ers’ back up plan lies with Lance and free agent addition Sam Darnold, who many are now pegging as the team’s Week 1 starter come September.

Part of that has to do with Lance’s own injury situation, but according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN, general manager John Lynch told the media last weekend that Lance has been fully cleared to participate. Wagoner also reported that the team, who has experienced an inordinate amount of quarterback injuries, is looking to add a fourth passer via undrafted free agency. As of yet, no such signing has been reported, but the team did bring on veteran backup Brandon Allen days ago.

Here are a few other rumors surrounding last year’s NFC West champions:

  • With starting tackle Mike McGlinchey departing in free agency for Denver, many thought San Francisco would address the departure through the draft. Seven rounds later, and no rookie offensive linemen were drafted by the 49ers. They did sign three undrafted rookies in Shepherd’s Joey Fisher, Washington’s Corey Luciano, and Hawai’i’s Ilm Manning, but they are expected to go with a currently rostered veteran, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Branch saw San Francisco’s inaction in the draft as a vote of confidence in fourth-year tackle Colton McKivitz. McKivitz has been a reserve and spent some time on injured reserve in his first three years, only starting five games, but the Niners have faith in him, as evidenced by their re-signing him to a two-year deal in early-March.
  • The 49ers re-signed veteran wide receiver Willie Snead for another year, and it appears his new deal will be the league’s veteran minimum, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. He’ll have a base salary of $1.17MM, $275K of it guaranteed, to go along with a $25K signing bonus. He’ll also receive a Week 1 bonus of $127.5K if he’s still rostered by then.
  • It looks like the 49ers were able to prevent former safeties coach Daniel Bullocks from following his mentor, DeMeco Ryans, to Houston. According to Josh Alper of NBC Sports, Bullocks has been named San Francisco’s new defensive backs coach. Additionally, Nick Sorensen, a defensive assistant last year, has been promoted to defensive passing game specialist for 2023. Lastly, to round out the defensive staff, Andrew Hayes-Stoker, a defensive quality control coach last year, has been promoted to assistant defensive backs coach and Cameron Brown has been hired to fill the newly open quality control position.

NFL Restructures: McCaffrey, Jones, Franklin-Myers, Jones

May 5th, 2023 at 8:47pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are a few details on recent contract restructures agreed to around the league:

  • The 49ers were able to reach an agreement on a restructured contract with star running back Christian McCaffrey last week, according to ESPN’s Field Yates, opening up $8.58MM in cap space. The team converted $10.72MM of McCaffrey’s 2023 base salary into a signing bonus and added two void years in order to reach the desired cap savings.
  • The Raiders were likewise able to restructure the contract of outside linebacker Chandler Jones to free up $5.07MM in cap space, according to Yates. Jones agreed to convert $6.33MM of his 2023 base salary into a signing bonus and add an additional void year to help Las Vegas reach those figures.
  • Yates also reports that the Jets reached an agreement last week to restructure defensive end John Franklin-Myers‘s contract. New York converted $4.32MM of Franklin-Myers’s 2023 base salary into a signing bonus to clear up $3.46MM in cap space.
  • In one of the least impactful updates we’ve reported, the Giants‘ cap space decreased by $750K last week because of a corresponding increase to quarterback Daniel Jones‘s cap hit. According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, the adjustment stems from an incentive Jones can earn this season if he plays over 65 percent of the team’s offensive snaps and wins the division. According to the league’s CBA, “any incentive bonus based on the team’s ranking in its Division automatically will be deemed ‘likely to be earned,'” which adds the incentive automatically to Jones’s 2023 cap hit.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/4/23

May 4th, 2023 at 6:19pm CST by Ben Levine

After the Panthers got the ball rolling yesterday, a number of teams started signing draft picks to their rookie contracts today. We’ve compiled all of the four-year, later-round signings below:

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

49ers Sign 12 UDFAs

May 4th, 2023 at 10:32am CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers are the latest team to announce their undrafted free agent class. Here are the 12 signees now on San Francisco’s 90-man roster:

The 49ers signed Winstead not long after he tweeted no team had extended him a UDFA offer or invited him to a rookie minicamp. After transferring from Toledo, Winstead posted a 1,085-yard season at East Carolina last year. That total more than doubled the 6-foot-3 receiver’s previous single-season best mark. He will attempt to stick with the 49ers. While the NFL has not revealed if the 16-man practice squad limit will remain in place for a fourth season, it represents a good bet teams will still have 69 spots (53 active roster, 16 P-squad) to use in 2023.

Fisher received a $130K guarantee to sign, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. The 6-foot-4 lineman lined up at right tackle at Division II Shepherd from 2019-22, earning All-American acclaim. He also impressed at his pro day, performing 40 bench-press reps of 225 pounds. That bettered this year’s top O-lineman Combine mark (38). Fisher is also coming off a broken hand sustained during the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

A Florida State transfer, Laborn is coming off a 1,513-yard rushing season at Marshall. Manning made a whopping 60 starts at Hawaii. Working as a tackle, Manning earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors last season. Young started 54 games for the Scarlet Knights; Jamison made 40 starts for the Longhorns. Spencer finished last season as a first-team Division I-FCS All-American, tallying nine sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles for the FCS powerhouse program.

Awatt and Laborn join a 49ers team that did not draft a running back but still carries their top backups — Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason and Tyrion Davis-Price — from last season. Christian McCaffrey‘s Panthers-constructed extension runs through 2025.

Every member of San Francisco’s UDFA class was born in the 1990s. Teams’ UDFA classes are flooded with players who used the additional eligibility year that came about because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but five members of this contingent will be at least 25 by year’s end. Awatt and Fisher will turn 26 as rookies.

49ers, QB Brandon Allen Agree To Deal

May 3rd, 2023 at 9:35am CST by Sam Robinson

John Lynch said post-draft the 49ers would add a fourth quarterback. The team has decided on veteran Brandon Allen. The former Bengals backup agreed to terms with the 49ers on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo report (via Twitter).

The 49ers have Brock Purdy rehabbing a torn UCL; the anticipated starter is not expected to receive full clearance until close to Week 1. Coming off a season marred by a September broken ankle, Trey Lance has come up in trade rumors. Sam Darnold committed to the NFC West team early in free agency. Allen will join the former Jets and Panthers starter as outside hires.

Allen, 30, spent the past three seasons as Joe Burrow‘s primary Bengals backup, signing three one-year deals. Cincinnati hosted Trevor Siemian on a free agent visit earlier this offseason but has not agreed to terms with the veteran backup yet. But Allen, who made five starts in relief of Burrow in 2020, will not be part of the Bengals’ equation any longer.

Both Allen and Siemian were part of the Broncos’ collection of post-Peyton Manning/pre-Russell Wilson lot of starters. The former made three starts during the 2019 season, the first game appearances for the 2016 draftee, as the Broncos transitioned from an injured Joe Flacco to then-rookie Drew Lock. The Jaguars initially drafted Allen in the sixth round out of Arkansas, but he spent the 2017 and ’18 seasons as a Rams reserve.

For his career, Allen holds a 56.7% completion rate and has averaged just 6.1 yards per attempt. While the former Razorbacks starter won his first career outing, he is 2-5 as a starter. One of those wins came in a December 2020 start in Houston, in which Allen finished with 371 passing yards and two touchdown strikes. For a potential camp arm, the 49ers can do a lot worse.

The 6-foot-2 QB, of course, will join an unusual situation. Lynch has discussed the above-referenced trade rumors with Lance, the team’s 2022 Week 1 starter, and Darnold has received early momentum about being the team’s starter — in the event Purdy is not ready to roll by Week 1. For all the uncertainty, the 49ers — who saw all four of their 2022 quarterback options go down — have three healthy QBs going into the offseason.

2024 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker

May 1st, 2023 at 9:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

NFL teams have until May 2 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2020 first-rounders who are entering the final year of their rookie deals. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of the player’s position, initial draft placement and performance- and usage-based benchmarks:

  • Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternate Pro Bowlers) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag.
  • One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag.
  • Players who achieve any of the following will get the average of the third-20th highest salaries at their position:
    • At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
    • A 75% snap average across all three seasons
    • At least 50% in each of first three seasons
  • Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position.

With the deadline looming, we’ll use the space below to track all the option decisions from around the league:

  1. QB Joe Burrow, Bengals ($29.5MM): Exercised
  2. DE Chase Young, Commanders ($17.45MM): Declined
  3. CB Jeff Okudah, Falcons* ($11.51MM): N/A
  4. T Andrew Thomas, Giants ($14.18MM): Exercised
  5. QB Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins ($23.2MM): Exercised
  6. QB Justin Herbert, Chargers ($29.5MM): Exercised
  7. DT Derrick Brown, Panthers ($11.67MM): Exercised 
  8. LB Isaiah Simmons, Cardinals ($12.72MM): Declined
  9. CB C.J. Henderson, Jaguars** ($11.51MM): Declined
  10. T Jedrick Wills, Browns ($14.18MM): Exercised
  11. T Mekhi Becton, Jets ($12.57MM): Declined
  12. WR Henry Ruggs, Raiders: N/A
  13. T Tristan Wirfs, Buccaneers ($18.24MM): Exercised
  14. DT Javon Kinlaw, 49ers ($10.46MM): Declined
  15. WR Jerry Jeudy, Broncos ($14.12MM): Exercised
  16. CB AJ Terrell, Falcons ($12.34MM): Exercised
  17. WR CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys ($17.99MM): Exercised
  18. OL Austin Jackson, Dolphins ($14.18MM): Declined
  19. CB Damon Arnette, Raiders: N/A
  20. DE K’Lavon Chaisson, Jaguars ($12.14MM): Declined
  21. WR Jalen Reagor, Vikings*** ($12.99MM): To decline
  22. WR Justin Jefferson, Vikings ($19.74MM): Exercised
  23. LB Kenneth Murray, Chargers ($11.73MM): Declined
  24. G Cesar Ruiz, Saints ($14.18MM): Declined
  25. WR Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers ($14.12MM): Exercised
  26. QB Jordan Love, Packers ($20.27MM): Extended through 2024
  27. LB Jordyn Brooks, Seahawks ($12.72MM): Declined
  28. LB Patrick Queen, Ravens ($12.72MM): Declined
  29. T Isaiah Wilson, Titans: N/A
  30. CB Noah Igbinoghene, Dolphins ($11.51MM): Declined
  31. CB Jeff Gladney, Vikings: N/A
  32. RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs ($5.46MM): To decline

* = Lions traded Okudah on April 11, 2023
** = Jaguars traded Henderson on Sept. 27, 2021
*** = Eagles traded Reagor on August 31, 2022

2023 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team

April 29th, 2023 at 10:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the 2023 NFL Draft gets underway, we will keep track of each team’s haul here:

Arizona Cardinals

Round 1, No. 6 (from Rams through Lions): Paris Johnson, OT (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 2, No. 41 (from Titans): BJ Ojulari, DE (LSU) (signed)
Round 3, No. 72 (from Titans): Garrett Williams, CB (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 94 (from Eagles): Michael Wilson, WR (Stanford) (signed)
Round 4, No. 122 (from Dolphins through Chiefs and Lions): Jon Gaines II, G (UCLA) (signed)
Round 5, No. 139 (from Broncos through Lions): Clayton Tune, QB (Houston) (signed)
Round 5, No. 168 (from Cardinals through Lions): Owen Pappoe, LB (Auburn) (signed)
Round 5, No. 180: Kei’Trel Clark, CB (Louisville) (signed)
Round 6, No. 213: Dante Stills, DT (West Virginia) (signed)

Atlanta Falcons

Round 1, No. 8: Bijan Robinson, RB (Texas) (signed)
Round 2, No. 38 (from Colts): Matthew Bergeron, T (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 75: Zach Harrison, DE (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 4, No. 113: Clark Phillips III, CB (Utah) (signed)
Round 7, No. 224 (from Raiders): DeMarcco Hellams, S (Alabama) (signed)
Round 7, No. 225: Jovaughn Gwyn, G (South Carolina) (signed)

Baltimore Ravens

Round 1, No. 22: Zay Flowers, WR (Boston College) (signed)
Round 3, No. 86: Trenton Simpson, LB (Clemson) (signed)
Round 4, No. 124: Tavius Robinson, LB (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 5, No. 157: Kyu Blu Kelly, CB (Stanford) (signed)
Round 6, No. 199: Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, OT (Oregon) (signed)
Round 7, No. 229 (from Browns): Andrew Vorhees, G (USC) (signed)

Buffalo Bills

Round 1, No. 25 (from Giants through Jaguars): Dalton Kincaid, TE (Utah) (signed)
Round 2, No. 59: O’Cyrus Torrence, G (Florida) (signed)
Round 3, No, 91: Dorian Williams, LB (Tulane) (signed)
Round 5, No. 150 (from Commanders): Justin Shorter, WR (Florida) (signed)
Round 7, No. 230 (from Buccaneers through Jets, Texans, Eagles and Bills): Nick Broeker, G (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 7, No. 252 (from Buccaneers through Rams): Alex Austin, CB (Oregon State) (signed)

Carolina Panthers

Round 1, No. 1 (from Bears): Bryce Young, QB (Alabama) (signed)
Round 2, No. 39: Jonathan Mingo, WR (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 3, No. 80 (from Steelers): D.J. Johnson, DE (Oregon) (signed)
Round 4, No. 114: Chandler Zavala, G (North Carolina State) (signed)
Round 5, No. 145: Jammie Robinson, S (Florida State) (signed)

Chicago Bears

Round 1, No. 10 (from Saints through Eagles): Darnell Wright, OT (Tennessee) (signed)
Round 2, No. 53 (from Ravens): Gervon Dexter, DT (Florida) (signed)
Round 2, No. 56 (from Jaguars): Tyrique Stevenson, CB (Miami) (signed)
Round 3, No. 64: Zacch Pickens, DT (South Carolina) (signed)
Round 4, No. 115 (from Saints): Roschon Johnson, RB (Texas) (signed)
Round 4, No. 133 (from Eagles): Tyler Scott, WR (Cincinnati) (signed)
Round 5, No. 148 (from Patriots through Ravens): Noah Sewell, LB (Oregon) (signed)
Round 5, No. 165 (from Saints through Eagles): Terell Smith, CB (Minnesota) (signed)
Round 7, No. 218: Travis Bell, DT (Kennesaw State) (signed)
Round 7, No. 258: Kendall Williamson, S (Stanford) (signed)

Cincinnati Bengals

Round 1, No. 28: Myles Murphy, DE (Clemson) (signed)
Round 2, No. 60: DJ Turner, CB (Michigan) (signed)
Round 3, No. 95 (from Chiefs): Jordan Battle, S (Alabama) (signed)
Round 4, No. 131: Charlie Jones, WR (Purdue) (signed)
Round 5, No. 163: Chase Brown, RB (Illinois) (signed)
Round 6, No. 206: Andrei Iosivas, WR (Princeton) (signed)
Round 6, No. 217 (from Chiefs): Brad Robbins, P (Michigan) (signed)
Round 7, No. 246: DJ Ivey, CB (Miami) (signed)

Read more

49ers Won’t Pick Up DT Javon Kinlaw’s Fifth-Year Option

April 29th, 2023 at 8:26am CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers will not be picking up defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw‘s fifth-year option, general manager John Lynch announced on Friday night (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). Lynch also confirmed reports that the 49ers would be picking up receiver Brandon Aiyuk‘s fifth-year option.

[RELATED: 49ers To Pick Up Brandon Aiyuk’s Fifth-Year Option]

“I talked to both of them,” Lynch said. “Brandon, we’re going to exercise that fifth-year option. We won’t with Javon.

“I talked with Javon — still looking for great things from Javon. Javon is having an outstanding offseason. He’s in a great place and he’s excited about what’s to come, as are we for him.”

The 49ers were hoping that Kinlaw, the 14th-overall pick in the 2020 draft, would be able to replace Pro Bowler DeForest Buckner, who they dealt to the Colts. The rookie somewhat accomplished those goals, starting 12 of his 14 games while collecting 33 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and four QB hits en route to an All-Rookie Team selection. However, his 2021 campaign was cut short by a torn ACL, and he was limited to only six games in 2022 while dealing with persistent knee issues.

In those six contests, Kinlaw compiled only four tackles while playing about 40 percent of his defensive snaps. He didn’t play enough snaps to qualify for Pro Football Focus’ rankings among interior defenders, but his grade would have landed him very close to the bottom of the list.

The organization showed their hand earlier this offseason when they signed defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to a four-year, $84MM contract, putting Kinlaw’s future with the 49ers in doubt. While the 25-year-old is set to hit free agency next offseason, the 49ers are still expecting him to play a role in San Francisco, at least temporarily.

“Because of the injuries, maybe it hasn’t gone as well as we all might have anticipated or as well as it would’ve had he been healthy, that’s part of this thing,” Lynch said. “Now he is healthy. … He’s gonna be part of our rotation and we’re really excited about that.”

Load More Posts