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For much of the offseason, many 49ers fans have believed the team will move on from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, either via trade or release. However, three months after the beginning of the 2022 league year, the veteran signal-caller still remains a member of the franchise as he rehabs from shoulder surgery.
Additionally, at the linebacker position, many have clamored for the 49ers to trade Dre Greenlaw, given that he's a free agent in 2023 and currently carries a cap hit of $2.54 million after signing his tender as a restricted free agent. Fellow linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair broke out last season while Greenlaw missed 14 games due to multiple injuries, creating a formidable duo at the position with former All-Pro Fred Warner.
However, there's a dark horse trade candidate for the 49ers ahead of the 2022 season at the same position: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.
Flannigan-Fowles, 25, is entering his third NFL season and will be a restricted free agent in 2023, meaning the 49ers will have to place a tender on him, which will amount to $2.59 million.
While Flannigan-Fowles has flourished with a special-teams role during his two seasons with the 49ers, having played 64% of the special-teams snaps in 2020 and 75% of the special-teams snaps in 2021, and missing just two tackles across both seasons, the undrafted linebacker has not been a regular player on defense, having played just 9% and 15% of the defensive snaps in his first two seasons, respectively.
Meanwhile, after struggling at safety during the early years of his career, Marcell Harris experienced a position change to linebacker in 2021 and immediately took more snaps than Flannigan-Fowles, earning 36% of the defensive snaps in 2021 as the fourth linebacker on the depth chart.
While Harris signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets earlier this offseason, the 49ers signed 25-year-old linebacker Oren Burks to a two-year deal, who, like Flannigan-Fowles, has been a special-teams ace during the early years of his career.
"Everyone really likes our three starters," Shanahan said. "Now we've got a guy behind them who if one of those guys gets hurt, he can come in and play good starting linebacker football. But while he's not doing that, we think we've got one of the best special teams players in the league."
Shanahan's words, and Burks's two-year, $5 million contract, indicate that the former Green Bay Packer is likely the fourth linebacker on the depth chart, placing Flannigan-Fowles in a similar role to last year as purely a special-teams ace.
Prior to the beginning of last season, the 49ers did make a trade involving a linebacker, sending Jonas Griffith and a 2022 seventh-round pick to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a 2022 sixth-round pick and a 2023 seventh-rounder.
The 49ers also tried keeping one of their undrafted free agent linebackers, Justin Hilliard, on the practice squad, but he was claimed on waivers by the New York Giants.
This season, the 49ers have a number of valuable undrafted free agent linebackers, with San Diego State's Segun Olubi and UNC's Jeremiah Gemmel as my favorites to potentially make the roster from the bunch.
Olubi, a safety/linebacker hybrid in college, has the ability to make plays in coverage, but also the range, athleticism, and tackling ability to be a good player as a pure linebacker in the NFL, as well as experience as a special-teams contributor in college.
Gemmel possesses the instinctual ability and tackling prowess that the 49ers value from their linebackers, and can also fill the special-teams role.
With multiple younger, cheaper, and higher potential options on the roster, the 49ers could look to cash in on Flannigan-Fowles's special-teams ability, similar to what they did with Griffith last season, and roster one of the undrafted free agents as their fifth linebacker in 2022.
49ers GM John Lynch, QB Brock Purdy speak ahead of the draft
By Site Staff
18 hrs
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch spoke with reporters as the team prepares for the 2024 NFL Draft. Quarterback Brock Purdy also addressed the media. Here is everything they had to say.
Transcripts provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
General Manager John Lynch
Opening comments:
"This to me, there's nothing like watching our guys compete on Sundays or Thursdays or Mondays. We play a lot of different days now, but nothing like watching our guys compete. But to me, this is really my favorite time of year as an organization because I think it represents our organization coming together and working for a common goal as much as anything we do. When you look at the guys I call our
Brock Purdy hopes to organize throwing session ahead of 49ers training camp
By David Bonilla
Apr 16
The San Francisco 49ers will hold a mandatory minicamp from June 4 through 6, officially concluding the team's offseason program. After that, the Niners will break for over a month and return to the Santa Clara facilities for training camp in late July.
Between that time, starting quarterbacks will often organize throwing sessions with their receivers in an effort to build chemistry ahead of the rigors of training camp. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been unable to participate in such sessions over the last two years. The last overall draft pick in 2022, Purdy had yet to make a name for himself during his first offseason. Last year, he was still recovering from offseason surgery on his throwing arm.
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Insider provides clarity on 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors
By David Bonilla
Apr 18
A questionable rumor surfaced on Wednesday regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers' interest in San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Sports Illustrated contributor Noah Strackbein reported that the AFC team was seemingly confident they could pull off a trade for Aiyuk.
However, the credibility of this report comes into question due to the assertion that the Steelers believe they could acquire Aiyuk at a bargain price, possibly in exchange for a second-round draft pick and a late-round selection.
RELATED: Steelers believe they can acquire Aiyuk at a
Why one analyst is worried for Brock Purdy if 49ers trade Brandon Aiyuk
By David Bonilla
Apr 18
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy achieved a remarkable feat in 2023, setting a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards. This accomplishment is noteworthy, considering the illustrious quarterbacks who have graced the organization's history.
A significant portion of those yards came from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who amassed a career-high and team-leading 1,342 receiving yards. Most of his 75 catches originated from passes thrown by Purdy.
Amidst significant offseason chatter surrounding the 49ers' star receiver, including several unsubstantiated trade rumors, Aiyuk's future remains uncertain. Former NFL player James Jones, now an analyst, expressed concern for Purdy should Aiyuk's tenure in the Bay Area come to an end.
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