Shead, who was signed as an undrafted free agent by Seattle in 2012, was released by the Seahawks on Monday. In six seasons with Seattle, he has registered 154 combined tackles, a sack, 24 passes defensed, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles.
Shead's best season came in 2016 when he started 15 games and recorded 81 combined tackles, 14 passes defensed, an interception, and a forced fumble. He spent most of 2017 on the physically-unable-to-perform list after suffering a torn ACL in the 36-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional round of the playoffs the season before. Shead was activated off of the PUP list on December 23, 2017, and played in the Seahawks' final two games of the season.
"He's such a versatile player, he has played both (cornerback and safety) for us," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said of Shead at the NFL Scouting Combine. "We'll see what happens. We know he can play corner, and we like the way he plays at corner, but everything is open. I have not talked directly to him about that, but we have mentioned it to him."
The NFL ruled that Seattle could have retained Shead under the terms he signed last offseason after coming off of the knee injury, but the team decided to allow the cornerback to become a free agent since that was the expectation headed into this offseason.
The 49ers have already acquired one former Seahawks cornerback, Richard Sherman, who signed with the team on Saturday after being waived by Seattle on Friday. He signed an incentive-rich three-year deal reportedly worth up to $39.15 million.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Two former 49ers named among biggest draft busts of all time
When discussing the biggest NFL Draft busts in San Francisco 49ers history, one of the most obvious examples is the blockbuster trade that set the team up to select quarterback Trey Lance. Bleacher Report recently compiled a list of the 99 biggest draft busts of all... -
Do the 49ers have the best quarterback room in the NFC? One NFL analyst believes so
For years, the San Francisco 49ers have been defined by elite offensive playmakers, Kyle Shanahan's offensive system, and a defense built to win championships. But heading into the 2026 season, one NFL analyst believes the biggest strength on the roster may be sitting in the... -
'We get to hit people in the face': 49ers' George Kittle sends fiery message to division rivals
San Francisco 49ers fans were understandably frustrated watching the Seattle Seahawks capture Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. Seeing a division rival celebrate a championship on your home field is never easy. 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner understands... -
49ers fans take note: NFL insider warns 'the 18-game slate is coming'
San Francisco 49ers fans would undoubtedly welcome another opportunity each season to watch their favorite team take the field. According to one NFL insider, that extra game is likely on the horizon—it's simply a matter of when the league and players can agree on the...