The 49ers have strengthened their roster with the historic signing of two potent new players.
To begin their 2024 offseason, the 49ers announced nine free agency acquisitions on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they formally announced four further additions.
Thus far, all 13 signees were athletes that were part of San Francisco’s practice squad at the end of the season.
Here are the four new guys that the 49ers signed on Wednesday:
DL Alex Barrett
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
DL Austin Bryant
These players were on the practice squad at the end of the season, which allowed San Francisco to add them. Because their contracts don’t expire until the 2023 league year concludes in mid-March, they are unable to sign any players who were under contract in 2023.
Whom did they ink to deals on Tuesday?
On March 13, NFL Free Agency gets underway at 5:00 p.m. That will be in roughly a month. There isn’t much prep time left after the celebration and recovery, regardless of the 49ers’ Super Bowl victory or defeat. John Lynch and company might decide to concentrate on their own free agents as a result. They have a few intriguing ones.
This year, a number of well-known individuals will undoubtedly have their contracts expire. While Deebo Samuel, Brock Purdy, and Christian McCaffrey are set, there are still players who could choose to sign with another team. Which players will feel there are better opportunities elsewhere, and who will remain and try to establish a dynasty?
Full roster of free agents and projections for the San Francisco 49ers
Buffalo Bills’ Chase Young will sign a contract.
This week, Chase Young is making a lot of news. He was traded from the Washington Commanders to the 49ers in the middle of the season. He was previously selected second overall. Although his success has varied, there are some doubts about his degree of effort, therefore it is quite doubtful that he will come back. There have been some discussions about a franchise tag, but right now it seems absurd. This offseason, the Buffalo Bills will take some chances, and Chase Young is a player with a lot of potential. They appear to be the kind of team who can take this kind of a swing.
Sam Darnold intends to join the 49ers in San Francisco.
Sam Darnold’s career has seen many ups and downs. When he was selected by the New York Jets in the NFL Draft, he was expected to be the one. While many predicted he would go undrafted, Baker Mayfield was selected by the Browns, while Saquon Barkley was the only player the Giants ever selected. He was unable to survive in New York, and in some ways, things were worse in Carolina. In San Francisco, he found the reset he needed. He never seems to let go of a positive thing.
Javon Kinlaw has decided to join the Cleveland Browns.
If the 49ers wanted to retain Javon Kinlaw for an extended period of time, he would still be under contract. As a first-round pick, they declined his option to play for five years. His career was cut short by injury, and he has never lived up to his draft stock. Even though he is only 26 years old, he is finally well in time for the Super Bowl. He might win a lot of money from a large “Big Game,” but he will most likely have the opportunity to regain some of his worth elsewhere. Adding to the already excellent Cleveland Browns defense might result in a massive 2025 deal.
San Francisco 49ers will sign Tashaun Gipson.
In August, Tashaun Gipson joined the 49ers as a backup cornerback after signing relatively late in training camp. In the Super Bowl, he ends the season as a starter. In order to provide a veteran presence to a squad that may otherwise rest on its laurels in the wrong direction, he will re-sign with the 49ers. Gipson is incredibly valuable to this club, even if Talanoa Hufanga heals from his ACL tear.
Ray-Ray McCloud intends to join with the Tampa Bay Bucs.
Going home is sometimes the wisest course of action, and Ray-Ray McCloud would agree that this is the case. As the 49ers’ kick returner, he may be the first player to touch the ball in the Super Bowl, but injuries have significantly reduced his value this year. When McCloud lost time due to various ailments, including a broken wrist, Ronnie Bell assumed return duties. Bell will be around for a while because he is a rookie. McCloud will, in the meanwhile, see a chance to return to Tampa. Now that he’s committed to Clemson, he’s a legend and can go back to the place where he’s achieved the most success.
The Arizona Cardinals will sign Clelin Ferrell.
If Clelin Ferrell’s name seems familiar, that’s because Jon Gruden selected him with the fourth overall pick in 2019. His career in Oakland and Las Vegas was difficult; he never again reached the mark of 4.5 sacks in his first season. Currently injured, he will not play in the Super Bowl (though his return to Vegas has generated some discussion). Next season, he’ll join a team where he can perhaps play. He is given this chance by Arizona, and head coach Jonathan Gannon may be able to bring out the best in him.
The Detroit Lions will sign Brandon Allen.
After a journeyman career, Brandon Allen enjoyed a respectable cup of coffee with the Cincinnati Bengals, but he did not play a snap. After Darnold and a largely healthy Brock Purdy, he was the third string player. Opportunities won’t be plentiful, but the Lions seem like a squad in need of a third string player.
San Francisco will sign Charlie Woerner.
Being that George Kittle isn’t always the healthiest tight end, the 49ers need some depth behind him. Woerner will rejoin the team for a one-year contract after showing promise as a depth player.
Ross Dwelley might no longer be in the League.
The 49ers have signed Ross Dwelley to four consecutive one-year contracts. He just caught one pass during the entire season this year. His contributions are available to the 49ers elsewhere for a comparable minimum contract. Dwelley should hopefully leave with a Super Bowl ring.
The New York Giants will sign Jon Feliciano.
The Giants are Jon Feliciano’s most well-known team, yet he signed with the 49ers after leaving. He will return to his former squad to hone his offensive line skills after leading them to the Super Bowl. Even at age 32, the guard is making a good living for himself this offseason.
Oren Burks, Demetrius Flannigan, and Keith GivensFowles may not be best suited for the NFL as his new home.
Numerous individuals lose their jobs in the NFL every season; it’s a tough place to work. We wouldn’t be shocked to see these three guys on rosters come opening day of the next season, but they might receive an invitation to training camp. All of them once showed some promise, but this year they failed to live up to the expectations.
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