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Sunday will be a bit of a homecoming for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. It will be the first time the defensive tackle has returned to Levi's Stadium since the San Francisco 49ers traded him to the Indianapolis Colts last year.
"I know it's going to feel weird once I get to the stadium, and get to the opponent's locker room, and little things like that,"
Buckner told reporters via a conference call this morning. "It's definitely going to be kind of weird, but I'm excited."
While Buckner is arriving as an opponent, there remain a lot of familiar faces on the 49ers sideline, including head coach Kyle Shanahan.
"Yeah, I miss Buck a lot," Shanahan told reporters before today's practice. "I knew we would, and that was a very tough decision, not one that we wanted to do. One that, going through all the situations, looking at the money, the contract of the salary, the salary cap that year, we just came off a big season with how well our defense played, and we had a number of guys that were up that year as unrestricted free agents. They weren't two years away.
"We also knew we had guys in the future we had to pay. So, wanted to keep Buck bad, but we had to look at all that stuff that went into it, and there's lots of things that go into it. But it wasn't something we were high-fiving or anything over after it happened. It came down to, 'Do you want to pay this amount of money to one guy, or do you want to keep two of the guys you already have that you will lose, plus add a 13th pick in the draft?'
"So, it had nothing to do with not valuing Buck or anything like that. It was the situation of that year and that we didn't want to lose two players and a 13th pick in the draft. So, a tough decision we had to make."
Linebacker
Fred Warner spoke about his former defensive teammate, revealing that the two remain in contact despite being separated by about 2,000 miles.
"We talk frequently," Warner said. "He was one of the first ones to congratulate me when I did sign my deal. I've been super happy for his success over there in Indy. He's continued to take strides and leaps in his game, and he's just a heck of a player. Yeah, really happy for him."
While Warner won't directly deal with Buckner on the field this weekend, Jimmy Garoppolo probably will. The quarterback was asked about his former teammate's impact in the locker room.
"DeFo was a great locker room guy, great teammate, great friend," Garoppolo shared. "Just a really great individual. He really was. I can remember when I first got here, DeFo was one of the first guys to come up to me, and I knew his name and everything but didn't really know him personally. He was very welcoming.
"I mean, a guy of his stature, you know, he has a presence about him. And so that's the tough part of the business to see guys go like that, but I've been on both sides of it and seen it. So it'll be cool to see him, but yeah, it's business, I guess."
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw for a franchise-record 4,280 yards last season, leading the team to the Super Bowl and earning his first Pro Bowl selection. He held onto the football 39 times on the ground, rushing for 144 yards and scoring twice. This marked a significant improvement over his rookie 2022 campaign when he had 22 carries for 13 yards and a score.
Purdy further displayed his athleticism during the 49ers' playoff game against the Detroit Lions last season, helping engineer a comeback victory while rushing for 48 yards on five carries.
On Tuesday morning, Purdy joined the "Pat McAfee Show," acknowledging that he believes he can contribute more rushing yards if called upon. However, that decision rests with head coach Kyle Shanahan,
Analyst Steve Palazzolo unveiled a first-round mock draft for Pro Football Focus, attempting to forecast the selections for each NFL team within the top 32 picks. While the San Francisco 49ers concentrated on strengthening the defensive line in free agency, Palazzolo envisions the team continuing to fortify that side of the ball.
In his mock draft, Palazzolo predicts that the 49ers will select former Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa with the No. 31 overall pick.
"Tampa's unique fluidity and size for a cornerback make him worthy of a top-75 pick," reads the analysis from Pro Football Focus' big board. "If he can clean up his footwork, he can
It's evident that the San Francisco 49ers engaged in long-term financial planning. Much discussion has centered around the feasibility of the team committing significant financial resources to two wide receivers, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Some skeptics question the wisdom of such heavy investment in a single position, especially considering that the 49ers handed Samuel a substantial three-year extension merely two years ago.
Adding complexity to this debate is the impending contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy, positioning him to become the highest-paid player on the team. He will likely even become one of the NFL's highest-paid players. Where he ranks in average salary will depend upon whether he can replicate the stellar performance of his Pro Bowl 2023
With the NFL Draft just two weeks away, the San Francisco 49ers hosted their annual local pro day at Levi's Stadium. The event showcased 44 players, including four veterans, all vying to impress coaches and team decision-makers and earn a roster spot. The 49ers have 10 selections in the upcoming draft.
NFL local pro days provide draft prospects with ties to the local area an opportunity to showcase their talents to team personnel. These prospects typically hail from nearby colleges or have other connections to the region where the team is based.
Terrell's Son Seeks an Opportunity
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