It sounds like Sam Monson and Brad Spielberger feel the San Francisco 49ers had a solid offseason. Rather than looking to the outside to bolster the roster, the team has focused on securing some of its own key players with the hopes of a healthier 2021.
San Francisco re-signed offensive tackle Trent Williams and fullback Kyle Juszczyk to long-term deals while adding a six-time Pro Bowl center in Alex Mack. The team still has some young talent in wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw. It will get defensive end Nick Bosa back this season. He was among the many key injuries that ravaged the roster last season.
One re-signing impressed Monson and Spielberger the most, though. It was the move to bring back cornerback Jason Verrett. Williams, Juszczyk, and Verrett were easily the team's top re-signing priorities, and few thought all three would be back. Somehow, the San Francisco brain trust made it happen. The Pro Football Focus duo named the Verrett signing as the 49ers' best of free agency.
"The one guy who managed to stay healthy after a tough battle with his own personal injury bug was former first-round cornerback Jason Verrett, and his return on another prove-it deal for $5.5 million is huge for San Francisco's secondary," wrote Monson and Spielberger.
They also feel that the quiet offseason from general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan might mean that the team remains focused on a potential trade for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, whose value may be falling due to some serious legal allegations. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle recently reported that the 49ers are among the teams that remain interested in the quarterback despite recent complications.
As for San Francisco's overall free-agency moves, Monson and Spielberger give the team an "average" grade.
Former 49ers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was named the Seattle Seahawk's best free-agency signing, with the Pacific Northwest team earning a "below average" overall grade.
"The Seahawks made a solid addition in CB Ahkello Witherspoon, who finished the 2020 season on a high note with coverage grades of 88.8, 86.8 and 77.7 in the final three contests," wrote Monson and Spielberger. "... but Witherspoon has started just 12 games the last two years, so it's probably a gamble to rely on durability going forward."
