With free agency starting earlier than usual, all NFL teams got their chance on making their first big free agent signings to get themselves in position to hoist the Lombardi Trophy next season. The San Francisco 49ers brought in 2 guys while losing 4 key players and also retaining 4 current players.
The 2 major acquisitions that the 49ers brought in were 2 defensive ends. Leonard Floyd of Buffalo was signed to a 2-year, $20 million dollar contract and Yetur Gross-Matos out of Carolina was also signed to a 2-year contract, worth $18 million dollars. Floyd is coming off a 10.5 sack season with 1 forced fumbles and 32 tackles, which ties his career high in sacks. Gross- Matos is coming off a season where he grabbed 4.5 sacks and 36 total tackles. This allows the 49ers defense to have 2 explosive options to pair next to Nick Bosa and this likely means a resigning of Chase Young is unlikely.
The 49ers biggest loss today was losing DT Javon Kinlaw to the Jets on a one year deal while also losing TE Charlie Woerner to the Falcons on a 3-year $12 million dollar deal and CB Isaiah Oliver also to the Jets on a One year deal. Kinlaw is coming off a 3.5 sack season with 25 tackles and was a constant in the defensive line this year next to Bosa and Armstead. Woerner is a good blocking TE, but took the best offer he could to return to his home state and back up Kyle Pitts. Oliver was cut by the 49ers last week but his 67.6 PFP grade is solid for a CB3.
He’s unsigned at the moment but DT Arik Armstead and the 49ers couldn’t agree on an extension making him a free agent after San Francisco released the DT. This leaves the 49ers in a major need for a solid DT in the middle.
The biggest returner is WR Jauan Jennings who was a second round tender. Jennings only had 19 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown in the regular season but he came up clutch in the playoffs when Deebo went down, going 10/13 with 111 receptions yards and one touchdown reception (and one touchdown thrown in the Super Bowl) as a WR3. In San Francisco's system, he’s perfect for the Niners and is a much needed returner. Along with Jennings, they retained QB Brandon Allen who’s the backup at the moment as Sam Darnold won’t be returning. The team also retained OG Ben Bartch and OT Colton McKivitz who provide much needed depth on our offense line to protect Brock Purdy.
Overall I like the moves that San Francisco made. Bringing in 2 good edge players to get slotted into a defense that is losing 3/4 of their defense line is huge, along with retaining 2 key pieces to the offense line. What the team is doing at DT is worrying but it’s only day 1 of free agency. Only time can tell how else this team will improve. Go 49ers!