Pro Football Focus (PFF) contributor Dalton Wasserman recently analyzed the analytics site's extensive data to pinpoint each NFL team's best and worst signings from the 2024 free agency cycle. The San Francisco 49ers, aiming to bolster their defensive line, made several headline-grabbing moves at the time.
Unfortunately, their efforts to rejuvenate the defensive front didn't produce the desired results. While Leonard Floyd's performance wasn't poor, he didn't have the game-changing impact general manager John Lynch likely envisioned when signing him. The team also signed Yetur Gross-Matos and Jordan Elliott to fortify the trenches and traded for Maliek Collins.
Among those acquisitions, Wasserman identified Elliott as the 49ers' worst signing of 2024.
"Elliott struggled in what could be his lone season in San Francisco, as he did during his four years in Cleveland," Wasserman explained. "His 47.6 overall grade is actually the second-highest of his career, but it certainly isn't the mark of a starting-caliber player."
Elliott registered just seven total pressures in 213 pass-rushing snaps and failed to record a single sack. With a $3.4 million cap hit in 2025, the 49ers could save over $2.9 million by designating him as a post-June 1 release.
As for the 49ers' best signing, Wasserman's pick may surprise fans. He chose cornerback Isaac Yiadom, a relatively under-the-radar player who didn't garner much attention during the season.
Yiadom is among several 49ers players set to hit free agency in March, but Wasserman's choice might reflect the overall lack of impact from the team's 2024 free-agent class, resulting in few options for him to pick from. He certainly doesn't sound enthusiastic about the selection.
"The 49ers quietly had a relatively unproductive free-agent class this season," Wasserman noted. "Yiadom was one of the better players, but even his production is highlighted by a 76.1 run-defense grade that doesn't do much to counter his 55.3 coverage grade."
While the 49ers aimed high in free agency, the results left much to be desired, contributing to the team's disappointing 6-11 campaign.