Tracking all of 49ers' free agency moves this offseason
Free agency is in full swing and the 49ers have been in the mix readying their roster for the 2021 season.The club has re-signed a few of their own while still looking to add new faces. Stay updated here on who the 49ers have signed and how they will fit into the club’s plans for 2021 as well as who has departed for a different franchise and how that will affect the 49ers going forward.
Position: Quarterback
New Agreement: 49ers - two years, $9.384 million
C.J. Beathard's time with the 49ers has come to an end.
Beathard, 27, appeared in six games last season for the 49ers, making two starts. He completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 787 yards while tossing six touchdowns and wasn't intercepted once.
The 49ers traded up in the 2017 NFL Draft to select the Iowa product in the third round. Over 19 games (12 starts) with the 49ers, he completed 58.6 percent of his passes for 3,469 yards, 18 TDs and 13 interceptions.
Position: Nickelback
New Agreement: 49ers - one year
Williams, one of the best nickelbacks in the game, recently visited with the Kansas City Chiefs but chose to return to the Bay for one more season with the 49ers.
Securing Williams gives the 49ers a solid secondary with Verrett, Moseley, Williams and Jimmie Ward locked into their roles. There will be a competition for the second starting safety position.
Position: Defensive end
New Agreement: 49ers - one year
The 49ers announced the dead with Willis l not long after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Kerry Hyder Jr. was signing a three-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
Hyder led San Francisco with 8.5 sacks last season.
San Francisco acquired Willis in trade with the New York Jets last October. . He played 183 snaps in seven games, tallying 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He’s only 25 and it appears he will play more this upcoming season.
A Kansas State University product, Willis was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
In his three seasons before landing with the 49ers, Willis accumulated 36 solo tackles with 16 assisted tackles across three seasons with the Bengals and the Jets.
Position: Defensive end
New Agreement: Seattle Seahawks - three years, $16.5 million
Kerry Hyder is headed to the rival Seattle Seahawks after a productive one-year stint with the 49ers.
In a season where Nick Bosa went down with an early season-ending injury, Hyder emerged as the 49ers’ sack leader in 2020 with 8.5. He also had a career-high 49 tackles and added 18 quarterback pressures and 10 tackles for loss.
Now he’ll join fellow ex-49ers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who also jumped ship to Seattle, albeit on a one-year contract.
Position: Safety
New Agreement: 49ers - one year
Wilson, 31, is a reliable veteran who began his nine-year career with four seasons in New England. He entered the NFL as a 2012 second-round pick from Illinois.
After appearing in 54 games with four starts with the Patriots, he moved on to Detroit. There, he started 39 of the 56 games in which he appeared over four seasons. Wilson played 15 games with the Indianapolis Colts last season and made two starts.
Wilson (6-foot, 208 pounds) has registered 383 tackles, eight interceptions, 20 passes defensed, five sacks in his career.
Position: Defensive back
New Agreement: 49ers - one year
Johnson saw action in 14 games for the 49ers last season with three starts. He played significant snaps at cornerback, special teams and also played nickel back after a rash of injuries. Johnson registered 23 tackles, one sack and three passes broken up.
Johnson has proven to be a valuable backup when called upon. He could provide depth for the 49ers behind presumptive starters Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley.
He entered the NFL as a 2014 fourth-round draft pick of the 49ers from North Carolina State.
Position: Wide receiver
New Agreement: 49ers - one year
Sherfield, 25, spent the first three seasons of his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals. The Vanderbilt product has seen most of his action on special teams, but he did catch 19 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown during his rookie season in 2018. Sherfield signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent after notching 136 catches for 1,869 yards during his career at Vanderbilt.
At his pro day in 2018, Sherfield ran a 4.45 40-yard dash and logged a 6.90-second three-cone drill. His speed is what got him into the NFL and what will make him an intriguing name to watch for the 49ers come training camp.
Position: Defensive end
New Agreement: Raiders- one year, $5 million
Thomas heads to the Raiders after four years with the 49ers. He did not live up to the hype after being the No. 3 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, taken before star quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson.
Thomas, 25, told NBC Sports Bay Area In February that he would be open to a return to the 49ers but that he was looking forward to free agency. After the 49ers agreed to a deal with pass rusher Samson Ebukam, it became clear Thomas likely would find a new home.
Thomas tore his ACL in Week 2 of the 2020 season against the New York Jets. He ends his 49ers career with only six sacks and 95 tackles in 48 games played. A change of scenery with the Raiders could be exactly what he needs to revive his career.
Position: Defensive tackle
New Agreement: 49res - one year, financials unknown
The 49ers continued to spend money on the players who battle in trenches, re-signing defensive tackle D.J. Jones to a one-year deal. The 26-year old lineman has been an underrated contributor for the 49ers defense.
In his four seasons with the club, Jones has recorded five career sacks, 70 total tackles, 52 solo, 13 for a loss and six quarterback hits. He adds continuity and stability to the interior of the line that includes Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw.
The 49ers know how important their defensive line has been to their success, especially in regards to stopping the run. Even with the unprecedented amount of injuries suffered in the team’s 2020 season, the defense was ranked in the top-10 of several defensive metric and Jones was a contributor.
With salary cap limitations, the club was able to keep another of their own without breaking the bank. Jones is also betting on himself that he will be able to secure a more profitable multi-year deal in 2022 when the salary cap goes back up.
Position: Defensive lineman
New Agreement: 49ers - one year
Kerr, 30, played 13 games last season for the Carolina Panthers, making four starts. He recorded 32 tackles -- two for loss -- nine QB hits and two sacks. The seven-year veteran has 9.5 sacks for his career.
Kerr entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Delaware. He has played for the Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Panthers.
The veteran defensive lineman had an impressive 84.1 Pro Football Focus grade last season.
This is the latest move by the 49ers to build a strong defensive line after bringing back D.J. Jones and adding edge rusher Samson Ebukam.
Position: Safety
New Agreement: 49ers - one year
Tartt, 29, appeared in seven games last season for the 49ers. He recorded 30 tackles, one interception and four passes defensed.
The six-year pro has started every game he has played for the 49ers since 2017, but has started only 36 of the possible 64 games due to injuries.
Through six seasons, the former second-round draft pick has recorded 301 tackles, four sacks and four interceptions.
Position: Center
New Agreement: 49ers - not yet disclosed
Following news of Weston Richburg’s hip surgery, signing or drafting a center was a priority for the 49ers.
The club reportedly has agreed to terms with former Falcons center Alex Mack, who solidifies the 49ers' offensive line for 2021 without a significant transition period. The Pro Bowl center has experience in Kyle Shanahan’s zone-blocking scheme from their time together in Atlanta and also brings veteran leadership to the group.
While the 12-year veteran’s play has not been as elite as when he received four straight Pro Bowl nods (2015-2018), he still offers the athleticism Shanahan’s system demands. Alongside a strong supporting cast of linemen, Mack will provide solid protection for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Prior to free agency, Mack had indicated he was interested in reuniting with his former offensive coordinator. Now, the 35-year old Berkeley Bear returns to the Bay Area in hopes of returning to the postseason.
Position: Left tackle
New Agreement: 49ers - six-years, $136 million
The 49ers got their man.
Re-signing Trent Williams was the No. 1 priority for the 49ers heading into free agency, and the club made an offer that the Pro Bowl left tackle couldn’t refuse.
At the close of the 2020 season, Williams spoke about the prospect of testing the market as a free agent, which is an unprecedented move by an elite left tackle. Now, Kyle Shanahan has locked down his quarterback’s blind side for the foreseeable future.
Williams has not only been a seamless fit into an offensive system that he understands, but his elite athleticism also has not declined after 10 seasons in the league. The 32-year old has shown his ability as a run blocker, getting to the second level in front of the ball carrier with regularity.
Reports that the Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts were all interested in Williams may have driven the price up, but the 49ers had a few aces up their sleeve. The eight-time Pro Bowl tackle wanted to sign with a contender as well as an organization he could trust.
Shanahan prioritizes athleticism in his offensive linemen, and the combination of re-signing Williams and Kyle Juszczyk will give the 49ers’ run game the potential to return to the dominant force it was in the 2019 season.
Position: Cornerback
New Agreement: Seattle Seahawks -- one year, terms unknown
Ahkello Witherspoon was a constant source of frustration for coach Kyle Shanahan, who held the 2017 third-round draft pick to a high standard. Witherspoon has the size and feet to be an outstanding cover man in the 49ers’ scheme.
But he was wildly inconsistent during his four seasons with the 49ers. He appeared to lack a sense of urgency and lost his starting job to Emmanuel Moseley when Witherspoon was repeatedly beaten in the playoffs.
In 2020, his contract year, Witherspoon ended up as a healthy scratch for several games before getting back into the lineup due to a rash of injuries in the 49ers' secondary. He finished strong, but it was clear the 49ers would not make an effort to re-sign him.
Witherspoon now gets an opportunity to remake his career with the Seahawks on a one-year contract, as first reported by Josina Anderson. Seattle lost starting cornerback Shaquill Griffin on Tuesday to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a big-money deal. Witherspoon will have an opportunity to compete for a significant role with the 49ers’ biggest rival.
Position: Wide Receiver
New Agreement: New England Patriots - three-years, $22.5 million
Kendrick Bourne grew into a reliable role in the 49ers offense after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2017. The Eastern Washington receiver seemed to always come through in moments when the team needed him most.
Of Bourne’s 121 career receptions, 88 were for first downs and 11 were touchdowns. Still, according to Bourne’s agent, the 49ers made little effort to bring him back with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk having locked down the WR1 and WR2 roles.
The 49ers could not have matched the $5.25 million that the New England Patriots offered Bourne with so many other needs on the roster, but will still need to add depth to the position but at a lower price, either in free agency or the NFL Draft.
The Patriots now have what Kyle Shanahan called some of the strongest hands he’s seen in the NFL, and the 49ers will look to find a receiver who is not afraid to go across the middle, and is able to play in the slot.
Position: Linebacker
New agreement: 49ers - two years, $12 million, up to $13.5M with incentives
With the 49ers unsure whether Dee Ford will be ready for the start of the 2021 season, the club brought in reinforcements. The addition of Samson Ekubam will add a pass rush counterpart to Nick Bosa, who the team hopes will be ready for Week 1 after missing the majority of the 2020 season with a torn ACL.
Ekubam spent his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams during which he recorded 14 career sacks, 150 tackles -- 95 of which were solo -- 16 for a loss and 28 quarterback hits. While the fourth-round outside linebacker has yet to become a household name, he has been a part of good supporting cast for All-Pro defensive end Aaron Donald.
While Ekubam’s NFL career has been in the Rams 3-4 scheme, he likely will be more productive and more comfortable in the 49ers 4-3 front. Stepping in as a pure pass rusher could be a win-win for both the player and team.
With John Lynch’s motto of “availability being a player’s best ability” in mind, Ebukam fits the bill having not missed a game in his four seasons in the NFL. The 49ers front office also worked the Eastern Washington pass rusher’s contract to only have a $3.75 million cap hit in 2021, making him an affordable addition.
Position: Cornerback
New Agreement: 49ers - one-year, $4.5 million guaranteed, $5.5 million potential with incentives
The 49ers needed to lock up their secondary during free agency and signing Jason Verrett was one the most important steps. The cornerback reportedly left a multi-year deal on the table in order to stay with the 49ers, betting on himself to prove he can produce in two consecutive seasons.
After only playing in six games over four seasons, Verrett returned to form in 2020, showing why he was the 25th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. While appearing in 13 games, Verrett snagged two interceptions and broke up seven passes. He also recorded 60 total tackles, 50 of which were solo, two for a loss.
Verrett will provide veteran leadership and continuity to a position group that will have new faces in the coming season. Even with new defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans taking the reins, Shanahan reports that the scheme will stay the same.
Verrett will look to prove himself again in order to secure a high paying multi-year deal in 2022. As long as the former Texas Christian cornerback can stay healthy, he will be set up to cash in right when the salary cap goes back up.
Position: Fullback
New agreement: 49ers - five years, $27 million
Re-signing Kyle Juszczyk was one of the top priorities for the 49ers heading into free agency. His new five-year deal makes him the highest-paid fullback in NFL history.
Juszczyk’s first contract with the 49ers was a four-year, $21 million dollar agreement for what general manager John Lynch called an offensive weapon. Most outside the building were skeptical of a fullback being valued so high, but four seasons later, his value is clearly understood.
Not only does Juszczyk provide veteran locker room leadership, he opens up the options Kyle Shanahan has in his run game while being a reliable contributor in pass protection.
The five-time Pro Bowl selection's talents were put on display in 2020, catching 19 passes for 202 yards and four touchdowns while also carrying the ball 17 times for 64 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
While Juszczyk enjoys his role as an unsung hero of the 49ers offense, he admitted he enjoyed his chances to showcase his talents in his most productive season yet. Now Shanahan has five more years to use Juszczyk to keep opposing defenses spinning.
Position: Cornerback
New Agreement: 49ers - two years, $9.384 million
Re-signing Emmanuel Moseley was an important step in locking down the 49ers secondary for 2021. The undrafted free agent has proven he has what it takes to make it in the league and the 49ers rewarded him with a new two-year contract.
Moseley will fit in nicely across from Jason Verrett, with both cornerbacks offering consistency as DeMeco Ryans prepares for his first season as defensive coordinator. In his 29 appearances with the 49ers, Moseley has recorded 98 tackles, 77 of which were solo, two for a loss. He has also recorded two interceptions and one quarterback hit.
The 49ers back loaded the cornerback’s two-year deal, making 2021 Moseley an affordable $2.65 million cap hit.
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
OL Daniel Brunskill
TE Ross Dwelley
S Marcell Harris
WR River Cracraft
S Kai Nacua
CB Mark Fields
RB Austin Walter
QB Josh Rosen
