The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly signed former Georgia defensive lineman Robert Beal Jr. to his rookie four-year deal. The team made him the 38th pick (No. 173 overall) in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The defender is the first of the 49ers' nine draft picks to officially sign with the team.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston was the first to report the news.
#49ers have agreed to terms with fifth-round defensive end Robert Beal Jr.
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 4, 2023
The former Bulldog joins his favorite NFL team.
"It's crazy because the 49ers, they were like, my favorite team growing up as a kid, and it's just like a dream, being able to reunite and being able to play for you guys," Beal said after learning he was headed to the 49ers.
Beal (6-4, 247) registered 25 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble through 15 game appearances as a senior in 2022, per Sports Reference. He recorded 72 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, two passes defensed, and two forced fumbles through his five collegiate seasons.
The total value of Beal's four-year contract is $4,084,984, per OverTheCap.com. That includes a signing bonus of $244,984 and a 2023 salary-cap figure of $811,246.
Thanks to the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which runs through the 2030 season, all rookie contracts are for a length of four years. First-round selections come with an option for a fifth year, which doesn't apply to any of the 49ers' nine draft selections.
"Beal has been missed out on snaps to more talented players and doesn't have a history of production that will excite teams, but his size, length and athletic ability are all moldable elements that could attract a team on Day 3," Lance Zierlein wrote within the player's NFL.com scouting report. "He lacks awareness as a run defender and possesses just average range as a tackler, but he can hold his ground against power. As a rusher, the tape can be a little uneven, but he flashes moves and counters that appear to be instinctive and potential fuel for development. Beal is a developmental edge defender who needs to prove himself on special teams while he continues learning the position."
