The San Francisco 49ers announced they have signed cornerback Derrick Canteen to a three-year contract. To make room on the roster, the team waived safety Quindell Johnson. Canteen joined the team as an undrafted free agent and participated in last week's rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.
The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.
Canteen (5-10, 193) joins the 49ers as an undrafted free agent from the University of Cincinnati. He appeared in 54 games (40 starts) over six years at Cincinnati (2024), Virginia Tech University (2023), and Georgia Southern University (2019-22) and recorded 204 tackles, 32 passes defensed, nine interceptions, and 7.5 tackles for loss.
In 2024, Canteen made 12 starts and registered 44 tackles, five passes defensed, three tackles for loss, one interception, and one forced fumble. In 2023 at Virginia Tech, he appeared in 13 games (three starts) and notched 43 tackles, five passes defensed, two tackles for loss, and one interception. In 2022 at Georgia Southern, he appeared in 11 games (10 starts) and totaled 64 tackles, 12 passes defensed, two tackles for loss, and one interception. As a sophomore in 2021, Canteen started two games and tallied five tackles. In 2020, he started 13 games and registered 48 tackles, 10 passes defensed, six interceptions, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble. As a true freshman in 2019, he appeared in three games.
A 24-year-old native of Evans, GA, Canteen attended Evans High (Evans, GA) (2015-19) where posted 61 tackles, eight passes defensed and two interceptions to go along with 14 receptions for 473 yards and four touchdowns earning First-Team All-Region and the Athlete of the Year for the 3-AAAAAA region as a senior in 2019.
Johnson (6-2, 208) originally signed a reserve/future contract with the team on January 21, 2025.