49ers release Garry Gilliam, saving $5 million in salary-cap space

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The 49ers on Wednesday created $5 million in additional salary cap space with the release of backup offensive tackle Garry Gilliam.

“We would like to thank Garry for his contributions to the team the last two seasons,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said in a statement.

“He filled in admirably when called upon and was a consummate teammate. We wish him and his family all the best.”

Gilliam appeared in 24 games with the 49ers during his two seasons with the club. He started one game in 2017 and saw all of his action in 2018 on special teams or in backup duties.

Gilliam originally signed with the 49ers as a free agent in 2017 after three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, where he started 30 games. The 49ers signed him to a two-year, $7.75 million contract last offseason. He was scheduled to make $5 million this season.

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The 49ers acquired another veteran backup offensive tackle last season before the start of the regular season when they traded a seventh-round draft pick to the Cleveland Browns for Shon Coleman.

Coleman, a third-round draft pick of the Browns in 2016, started all 16 games for Cleveland in 2017. He was on the inactive list for all 16 games with the 49ers last season.

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