Here is an updated list of the roster moves that the 49ers have made during free agency so far and the players that the team may be interested in. This listing will be updated throughout the day.
The big news right now is defensive end Justin Smith's visit to the 49ers today.
Signed
DE Justin Smith (Bengals - 6-yr, $45 mil)
WR Isaac Bruce (Rams - 2-yr, $6 mil)
CB Allen Rossum (Steelers - 1-yr, $870,000)
LB Dontarrious Thomas (Vikings - 2-yr)
Smith visited with the 49ers on Friday and finally signed with the team. After being unable to come to an agreement on a new contract in St. Louis, Bruce was cut by the Rams. 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz is very familiar with Bruce and likely influenced the decision to go after him. Bruce is 35 years old. He was signed on Friday. Rossum will serve as the team's kick-returner. Not a good sign for WR Michael Lewis and RB Maurice Hicks. Thomas is an interesting signing. Some believe that he will replace Derek Smith, who was released by the team, while others believe that he was signed for depth.
Agreed to terms
RB DeShaun Foster (cut by the Panthers - 2-yr / $1.8 mil)
QB J.T. O'Sullivan (Lions - 1-yr / NFL min w/ $40,000 signing bonus)
Foster will help shoulder the load behind running back Frank Gore. O'Sullivan will serve as the 49ers' third quarterback as Alex Smith and Shaun Hill compete for the starting job.
Confirmed Interest
DE Marques Douglas (49ers)
The 49ers are interested in bringing back Douglas, but are willing to risk letting him test free agency.
Rumored Interest
No names
Out of the Running
G Alan Faneca (Steelers - signed by Jets)
LB Lance Briggs (Bears)
WR Muhsin Muhammad (Bears - signed by Panthers)
WR Bernard Berrian (Bears)
LB Calvin Pace (Cardinals)
Internal Moves
QB Alex Smith (exercised a multimillion-dollar buyback clause)
RB Michael Robinson (3-yr contract extension)
Lost
T Kwame Harris (Raiders)
G Justin Smiley (Dolphins)
Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw signed his rookie deal with the San Francisco 49ers on June 26 and is working hard preparing for his first NFL season. There is a lot of pressure to fill the shoes of the Pro Bowl defensive tackle he is replacing, DeForest Buckner, and prevent one of last year's most impactful defense lines from regressing.
Defensive line training specialist Cam Spence posted a couple of videos of Kinlaw working out (h/t to Patrick Tulini). You can watch them
It's entirely likely that the San Francisco 49ers don't grant Raheem Mostert's trade request, and the running back ends up leading the team's ferocious rushing attack this season. He was a breakout surprise last year — and really, in the playoffs — and has earned an increased workload going forward.
Mostert's $2.575 million base salary for 2020 is second to Tevin Coleman's $4.55 million among the Niners' backs, if you don't count fullback Kyle Juszczyk, of course. The team also has Jerick McKinnon, who head coach Kyle Shanahan was high on after signing him in 2018. Injury has knocked him out of each of the last two seasons, though, so no one really knows yet what the 49ers have there.
Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus
Six-time Pro Bowler, five-time first-team All-Pro, and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald made some headlines — and scared a whole lot of Los Angeles Rams fans — by training and honing his technique using a seemingly dangerous drill.
"Honing," ironically, can mean to sharpen. As in, a blade.
I bring that up because it looked as though the drill involved knives. You can see Donald running through it below.
Wanted to remind everyone that Aaron Donald trains with KNIVES sometimes 😱 pic.twitter.com/UYBQuvok3X—
