The hype of free agency has come and gone and now it’s time to look at what teams have gained and lost since March 16th and where they stand as they prepare for the upcoming draft. Let’s chat about the San Francisco 49ers, whose offseason is just getting started.
San Francisco 49ers
Key acquisitions: CB Charvarius Ward, DE Kemoko Turay, S George Odum, LB Oren Burks, DT Hassan Ridgeway, DE Kerry Hyder, WR Ray-Ray McCloud, WR Marcus Johnson, WR Malik Turner
Re-signed: CB Dontae Johnson, RB Jeff Wilson, DE Jordan Willis, DT Maurice Hurst, C Jake Brendel
Departures: G Laken Tomlinson (Jets), DT D.J. Jones (Broncos), RB Raheem Mostert (Dolphins), CB K’Waun Williams (Broncos), LB Marcell Harris (Jets), G Tom Compton (Broncos), DE Arden Key (Jaguars), RB Trenton Cannon (Titans), WR Trent Sherfield (Dolphins), DT Kentavius Street (Saints)
Remaining free agents: S Jaquiski Tartt, CB Jason Verrett, WR Mohamed Sanu, CB Richard Sherman, CB Josh Norman, WR Travis Benjamin
Analysis: This was a relatively quiet offseason for the 49ers, but there sure are plenty of storylines, especially in the recent days. Before we get into that, let’s talk about moves that were actually made.
It seems the 49ers have really struggled to find good cornerbacks that can stay healthy. They’ve brought in guys like Richard Sherman, Josh Norman, and Jason Verrett among others, but they haven’t stayed healthy. They’re hoping to stop that trade with the signing of former Chiefs starter Charvarius Ward on a three-year contract. The former 2018 UDFA developed into a full-time starter the last three seasons playing at a decently high level. He joins a young secondary to start alongside Emmanuel Moseley and Ambry Thomas, but will be without K’Waun Williams, who signed with the Broncos.
Also joining the secondary is George Odum, a career special teamer who was thrust into a starting role in 2021 after injuries to Julian Blackmon and Khari Willis and played very well, well enough to get a three-year contract. He could take the place of longtime starter Jaquiski Tartt, who is still a free agent, and pair alongside Jimmie Ward.
More moves on defense include a few on the defensive line, signing former Colt Kemoko Turay. The former second-rounder showed flashes throughout his career but could not stay healthy. Not sure San Fran is the place to earn playing time when you have Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Dee Ford, Samson Ebukam, Jordan Willis, and fellow free agent signee Kerry Hyder as your competition. Also added on the defensive line is Hassan Ridgeway, who’s been a solid rotational interior lineman throughout his career.
Oren Burks also joins the fold as a special teamer and rotational linebacker. The 49ers linebackers have had injury troubles in recent years and have lacked depth behind Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, and Azeez Al-Shaair, but the former Packers third-rounder can aid in that depth.
With these signings came a lot of key departures. Right guard Laken Tomlinson is on the Jets with no clear replacement. D.J. Jones signed with the Broncos, but that team is so deep they can fill that hole, even though Jones was a very good full-time starter the last three seasons. Raheem Mostert is a very good running back, but cannot for the life of him stay healthy, so it was time to let him go and sign with his former offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel in Miami.
Now to the big storylines. The one we’ve heard about for years about how the Niners are trying to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo keeps trying to pick up steam, but no one buys it. Jimmy G is a good starter, but has always lacked the wow factor and is prone to make mistakes, but is apparently a popular guy in the locker room. The team drafted Trey Lance third overall last year in hopes he’s the next franchise starter, but he did not put anything on tape last year that shows that. He still needs a lot of work, and I doubt anyone is gonna want to take on Garoppolo’s contract, especially coming off shoulder surgery, so I think it’s in the team’s best interest to ride out the final year of his contract and then hand it off to Lance, but by the time that happens, the team could be without it’s best weapon.
There has been a lot of superstar movement this offseason, and one of the league’s latest breakout stars wants to move too. Deebo Samuel, who is set to be a free agent in 2023, wants to be traded out of San Francisco. The former second-round pick was electric in 2021 as a first-team All-Pro as both a receiver and runner and is the most dangerous player with the ball in his hands. According to recent reports, Samuel doesn’t even want to engage in contract talks, he just wants out. It’s really unclear the exact reason why. Usually when offensive players want to leave, it’s because they aren’t being used as much as they want to, but in Deebo’s case, it’s because he was used too much in 2021. He wants to go to a team where he can have a defined role, which is an odd mindset to have when you know you could have the ball at any given time in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. He played a lot at running back due to injuries, but I’m guessing he wasn’t a huge fan of that. Or maybe he was and doesn’t want to be a wide receiver, who knows. Maybe the workload took a toll on his body and it was too much and he doesn’t even want to entertain the possibility of working with the team on his role, he just wants out. And it’s not even like the 49ers are in a bad situation, they have a good roster and stable front office and ownership group, so it’s really hard to figure out why he wants out. Either way, it sounds like Samuel will be traded unless he’s willing to actually talk to the team and work things out.
Conclusion: The 49ers have had a weird offseason, a couple nice free agent signings, but have too many storylines around them, and not for the good. And it’s not really the team’s fault, or maybe it is we don’t know both sides of the Deebo situation. A lot of guys left in free agency, some were replaced, but you cannot replace Deebo Samuel. They’ve been trying to replace Jimmy Garoppolo, but they just can’t. The story of the 49ers offseason is just getting started.
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