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Breaking down the 49ers’ undrafted free agent signings
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After a relatively quiet draft for the 49ers, in which they stayed put at every selection, San Francisco was extremely active in the undrafted free agent pool, and hit the jackpot on a few players.
Here's a list of the undrafted free agents they've currently signed.
In particular, offensive linemen Dohnovan West out of Arizona State and Jason Poe out of Mercer, as well as linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel out of North Carolina stood out, given the unlikelihood that they would actually go undrafted.
ASU OL Dohnovan West
West, a 6'3, 300-pound guard/center, was connected to the 49ers from the Combine, where he shared that the organization had expressed interest in him.
West best profiles under a zone-scheme offense, which the 49ers run, making him an ideal fit in San Francisco's offense, especially with the explosiveness he has at his size.
West likely requires some transition from the collegiate game to the NFL level, but his comfortability in a zone scheme could make him an intriguing candidate to compete to start at the Center position.
Getting a potential Day 1 starter as an undrafted free agent is phenomenal value for the 49ers.
Mercer OL Jason Poe
Poe, a 6'0, 300-pound guard/center, has elite athleticism and explosiveness, earning a 9.45 relative athletic score, which included a 1.75 10-yard split, while also testing exceptionally in the shuttle and 3-cone drills.
Despite his smaller frame, Poe plays with great strength as well, and should be a good system fit with his ability to move in space in a zone-scheme offensive system.
Poe needs refinement in his pass protecting skills, but, as an undrafted free agent, possesses a ton of value for the 49ers.
UNC LB Jeremiah Gemmel
Gemmel is the type of player that the fans should rave about, with a set of intangibles that round out his profile, such as his leadership capabilities and high motor.
Gemmel is a bit undersized at the linebacker position, coming in a 6'0, 226-pounds, but showcases good instinct and closing speed in run support, which is the role he likely plays at the NFL level.
The 49ers are a team known for developing linebackers, which is defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans's specialty, as they have a good young core including
Fred Warner, Azeez Al-Shaair, and
Dre Greenlaw.
While Gemmel hasn't had much experience at the special teams position, he could follow suit of fellow 49er linebackers Demetrius Flanagan-Fowles and
Oren Burks, who are both known for their special-teams capabilities in addition to their defensive talent.
If Gemmel were to go to a specific situation to succeed, it would be the 49ers, given his instinctual abilities and their propensity for developing linebackers.
Once again, a draftable player hit the open market, and the 49ers pounced.
The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.
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