Antoine Bethea. Photo by Mark J. Rebilas of USA Today Sports.
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As expected, the San Francisco 49ers did not join in the initial free agency frenzy and compete with other NFL teams for top tier free agents asking for too much money once the clock hit 1 PM today. Instead, they sat back and made a few low-key, but solid deals while everyone else fought each other as if the available football players were doorbuster sale items on Black Friday.
Below are the moves that the 49ers made during the first day of free agency.
New Arrivals
The 49ers signed safety
Antoine Bethea to a 4-year, $21 million deal. He will likely replace the departed Donte Whitner.
The 49ers traded a 6th round draft pick in this year's draft for Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback
Blaine Gabbert. He will likely back up Colin Kaepernick.
The 49ers traded a conditional 7th round draft pick in next year's draft for Miami Dolphins offensive tackle
Jonathan Martin. The Dolphins only get that pick if Martin makes the 53-man roster.
Re-signed
Kicker
Phil Dawson re-signed with the 49ers. Dawson was a good kicker for the 49ers in 2013 hitting 32 of his 36 field goals and all 44 extra points during the regular season. During the playoffs, he hit every one of his seven field goal and six extra point attempts.
Cornerback
Eric Wright signed a one-year deal to return to the 49ers. It will be interesting to see what he can do with an entire offseason with the 49ers under his belt.
Departures
Safety
Donte Whitner leaves the 49ers for the Cleveland Browns with a 4-year, $28 million deal.
Cornerback
Carlos Rogers was cut from the team to free up $6.6 million in cap space.
Looking Elsewhere
Cornerback
Tarell Brown, the best of the remaining 49ers free agents is awaiting some interest from an NFL team. Running back
Anthony Dixon will visit with the Tennessee Titans. Other 49ers free agents include center
Jonathan Goodwin, wide receiver
Mario Manningham, quarterback
Colt McCoy, and wide receiver
Kassim Osgood. Other than Brown, the 49ers have not shown much interest in any of these free agents.
Showing Interest
The 49ers have shown some interest in Miami Dolphins cornerback
Nolan Carroll.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee states, "At 6-1, 205 pounds, the 27-year-old Carroll also fits the mold of the bigger, physical cornerback the 49ers and other teams are seeking."
Top 10 Wide Receivers Left According to Rotoworld
- Eric Decker
- Hakeem Nicks
- Julian Edelman
- Golden Tate
- Santonio Holmes
- James Jones
- Emmanuel Sanders
- Sidney Rice
- Jacoby Jones
- Brandon LaFell
Top 10 Cornerbacks Left According to Rotoworld
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
- Walter Thurmond III
- Charles Tillman
- Antonio Cromartie
- Tarell Brown
- Captain Munnerlyn
- Corey Graham
- Derek Cox
- Chris Cook
- Terrell Thomas
Complete list of positions from Rotoworld.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy achieved a remarkable feat in 2023, setting a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards. This accomplishment is noteworthy, considering the illustrious quarterbacks who have graced the organization's history.
A significant portion of those yards came from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who amassed a career-high and team-leading 1,342 receiving yards. Most of his 75 catches originated from passes thrown by Purdy.
Amidst significant offseason chatter surrounding the 49ers' star receiver, including several unsubstantiated trade rumors, Aiyuk's future remains uncertain. Former NFL player James Jones, now an analyst, expressed concern for Purdy should Aiyuk's tenure in the Bay Area come to an end.
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Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz reports that the San Francisco 49ers were among several NFL teams in attendance for former Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton's pro day workout. The defender also goes by the name "Johnny."
Illinois DT Johnny Newton, a projected 1st-round pick, just wrapped up an impressive Pro Day — showcasing elite explosion and power after a Jones fracture that he's fully healed from.I'm told the following teams were in attendance, among others:BillsCowboys49ersJets… pic.twitter.com/ggMIiIBkub—
