Antoine Bethea. Photo by Mark J. Rebilas of USA Today Sports.
Free Agency: Day One Recap
Mar 11, 2014 at 10:22 PM
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As expected, the San Francisco 49ers did not join in the initial free agency frenzy and compete with other NFL teams for top tier free agents asking for too much money once the clock hit 1 PM today. Instead, they sat back and made a few low-key, but solid deals while everyone else fought each other as if the available football players were doorbuster sale items on Black Friday.
Below are the moves that the 49ers made during the first day of free agency.
New Arrivals
The 49ers signed safety
Antoine Bethea to a 4-year, $21 million deal. He will likely replace the departed Donte Whitner.
The 49ers traded a 6th round draft pick in this year's draft for Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback
Blaine Gabbert. He will likely back up Colin Kaepernick.
The 49ers traded a conditional 7th round draft pick in next year's draft for Miami Dolphins offensive tackle
Jonathan Martin. The Dolphins only get that pick if Martin makes the 53-man roster.
Re-signed
Kicker
Phil Dawson re-signed with the 49ers. Dawson was a good kicker for the 49ers in 2013 hitting 32 of his 36 field goals and all 44 extra points during the regular season. During the playoffs, he hit every one of his seven field goal and six extra point attempts.
Cornerback
Eric Wright signed a one-year deal to return to the 49ers. It will be interesting to see what he can do with an entire offseason with the 49ers under his belt.
Departures
Safety
Donte Whitner leaves the 49ers for the Cleveland Browns with a 4-year, $28 million deal.
Cornerback
Carlos Rogers was cut from the team to free up $6.6 million in cap space.
Looking Elsewhere
Cornerback
Tarell Brown, the best of the remaining 49ers free agents is awaiting some interest from an NFL team. Running back
Anthony Dixon will visit with the Tennessee Titans. Other 49ers free agents include center
Jonathan Goodwin, wide receiver
Mario Manningham, quarterback
Colt McCoy, and wide receiver
Kassim Osgood. Other than Brown, the 49ers have not shown much interest in any of these free agents.
Showing Interest
The 49ers have shown some interest in Miami Dolphins cornerback
Nolan Carroll.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee states, "At 6-1, 205 pounds, the 27-year-old Carroll also fits the mold of the bigger, physical cornerback the 49ers and other teams are seeking."
Top 10 Wide Receivers Left According to Rotoworld
- Eric Decker
- Hakeem Nicks
- Julian Edelman
- Golden Tate
- Santonio Holmes
- James Jones
- Emmanuel Sanders
- Sidney Rice
- Jacoby Jones
- Brandon LaFell
Top 10 Cornerbacks Left According to Rotoworld
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
- Walter Thurmond III
- Charles Tillman
- Antonio Cromartie
- Tarell Brown
- Captain Munnerlyn
- Corey Graham
- Derek Cox
- Chris Cook
- Terrell Thomas
Complete list of positions from Rotoworld.
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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MJ
How is Carlos Rogers not a top 10 remaining cornerback? That's strange, especially since the list excludes a lot of signed free agent CBs... So it does account for a period beyond the beginning of free agency and therefor should account for Rogers' release.
I hope we get Carlos Rogers back at a reduced rate. Getting Tarrell Brown back would be nice, but if there is no market for Rogers and we can get him back at, say, $3.5 million then why not.
I think Baalke dropped the ball by not re-signing Whitner. Bethea is definitely a downgrade, and if what reports are saying his salary will be (4-yr, $23 million) then shame on Baalke. Its not far off from what Whitner recieved, not to mention Whitner is still young and knows this defense in and out already. I am hoping the guaranteed money or stipulations of his contract allow for Bethea to be a band-aid while we draft a strong safety replacement. By all accounts, his own included, Whitner wanted to be back with the 49ers. I would understand if it came down to a big difference, but this is a head scratcher.
Baalke REALLY dropped the ball by trading for Blaine Gabbert. This move has NO positives to it, only negatives.
Mar 12, 2014 at 8:43 PM
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Frank M
A good first day, IMHO. Baalke was more active than in the past few season FA frenzy first days. Did well replacing Whitner w/Bethea. Antoine's a class guy and very good, versatile player. He'll mesh nicely w/Reid. Happy Eric Wright's back...should Brown sign elsewhere, he'd be our senior CB. Gabbert could surprise many...Harbaugh can work his magic as only he can. Martin was a no-brainer, really. He'll need to get back in shape, but he can play multiple OL positions, always welcome by the coaches. Dawson was simply money and you bring those guys back, period.
Mar 12, 2014 at 1:51 PM
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RishikeshA
Thanks David, as usual the 49ers are under the radar in day one of free agency. What about Perrish Cox? I haven't heard about his status. During the playoffs he saw lots of action. The Niners signed Wright even though the staff picked Cox over him late last season. Osgood should come back.
Mar 12, 2014 at 12:24 AM
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