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Deebo Samuel Deebo Samuel Likely staying in San Francisco
Wed, May 1, 2024, 11:06 AM
Samuel wasn't traded during the 2024 NFL Draft and now seems likely to stay with the 49ers for at least one more season, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The 49ers selected receivers in the first round (Ricky Pearsall) and fourth round (Jacob Cowing), and while they reportedly fielded trade offers for both Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, nothing ever came to fruition. The receiver group now appears likely to undergo significant changes next offseason, at which point Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings are scheduled for unrestricted free agency and Samuel will have just one year remaining on his contract (with no guaranteed money). A contract extension for Aiyuk in the coming weeks or months would further increase speculation about Samuel eventually being the odd man out. |
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Deebo Samuel Deebo Samuel Drawing interest from Pats, Bills
Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 1:20 PM
The Patriots and Bills have interest in trading for Samuel, Michael Giardi of Boston Sports Journal reports.
Analysis: There's been a lot of trade chatter around Samuel's teammate, Brandon Aiyuk, but Giardi reports Samuel is "more likely to be traded" and has a couple interested suitors in Buffalo and New England. Both offenses are in dire need of wideout help, and the Bills (33rd overall) and Patriots (34th) hold picks atop the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday night. Samuel has two years left on his contract but has been more prone to injuries throughout his career, missing six regular-season games and parts of several others across the last two seasons. Aiyuk, meanwhile, is coming off a career year and a second consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season. The Niners used their first-round pick Thursday night on Florida WR Ricky Pearsall, further fueling trade chatter on the team's veteran wideouts. |
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Brandon Aiyuk Brandon Aiyuk Discussing deal with team
Mon, Apr 22, 2024, 2:33 PM
GM John Lynch said Monday that the 49ers are having "good talks" with Aiyuk, who hasn't been at the team facility for the offseason program, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Aiyuk is unlikely to show up for voluntary workouts without a new contract in hand, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll hold out from mandatory minicamp in June if the two sides haven't reached an agreement by then. The 26-year-old's agent denied reports of a trade request last weekend, and it sounds like there's still hope for a long-term contract heading into the fifth and final year of Aiyuk's rookie deal. He's scheduled to make $14.12 million under the fifth-year option, whereas a multi-year deal likely would entail a large signing bonus and an annual average value well north of $20 million. Making it work for the 2024 season isn't an issue, but the Niners may be hesitant to pay Aiyuk at market value long term when they already have six players scheduled for cap hits north of $20 million in 2025, including WR Deebo Samuel and TE George Kittle. Even then, it's a workable situation, as they've got a starting QB on a late-round-rookie contract and don't owe large sums of guaranteed money beyond the current year to anyone besides DE Nick Bosa. |
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Trent Taylor Trent Taylor Returns to The Bay
Tue, Apr 16, 2024, 4:05 PM
Taylor signed a one-year contract with the 49ers on Tuesday, Lindsey Pallares of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Taylor started his career in San Francisco before a two-year stay with the Bengals and spending the 2023 campaign with the Bears. The 29-year-old will likely have the opportunity to earn a role in the return game with the departure of Ray-Ray McCloud in free agency this offseason. |
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Brandon Aiyuk Brandon Aiyuk Trade request denied by agent
Sun, Apr 14, 2024, 11:51 AM
Aiyuk's agent, Ryan Williams of Athletes First, denied reports on social media Sunday that the wide receiver has requested a trade from the 49ers, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Aiyuk's contract status has been a matter of intense speculation throughout the offseason, with San Francisco GM John Lynch saying in late February that the organization is seeking a long-term contract extension with the wideout and then denying reports that the 49ers were engaged in trade discussions regarding Aiyuk about a month later. While some chatter surfaced Sunday suggesting that Aiyuk had officially requested a trade out of San Francisco, his agent swiftly shot down the sources of that information on social media, so the status of the receiver's contract talks with the organization that drafted him in 2020 remains uncertain. An extension isn't a necessity for Aiyuk to suit up for the 49ers next season -- he could play out the 2024 campaign with the club on his fifth-year option and then hit free agency next offseason. |
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Eric Saubert Eric Saubert Headed to Bay Area
Mon, Apr 8, 2024, 4:26 PM
Saubert signed a one-year deal with the 49ers on Monday.
Analysis: Over the course of nine regular-season games for the Texans in 2023, Saubert (who before that suited up for one contest with the Cowboys) caught all three of his targets for 12 yards. With San Francisco, Saubert will work in a depth role behind George Kittle, and in that capacity it's unlikely he'll see enough targets in 2024 to merit fantasy consideration. |
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Patrick Taylor Patrick Taylor Finds home in San Fran
Wed, Apr 3, 2024, 2:06 PM
Taylor and the 49ers agreed to terms on a one-year contract Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Taylor spent the last four seasons in Green Bay, suiting up for 34 regular-season games from 2021 through 2023. During that time, he largely contributed on special teams before taking on an increased depth role on offense in 2023, when he rushed a career-high 32 times for 141 yards in 11 appearances. Heading into his first training camp with San Francisco, Taylor will compete for a depth role behind Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell. |
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Brandon Aiyuk Brandon Aiyuk Team denies trade rumors
Mon, Mar 25, 2024, 11:29 AM
GM John Lynch said Monday that the 49ers have not engaged in trade discussions regarding Aiyuk and that both sides continue to have active talks about a contract extension, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Analysis: Lynch also noted that San Francisco would be amicable to Aiyuk simply playing out the 2024 season on his fifth-year option, an outcome that would position the young wideout to hit free agency next offseason. The 2020 first-round pick recorded a 75-1,342-7 receiving line across 16 regular-season games last year, and while his skills certainly are central to the 49ers offense and Brock Purdy's continued success, the team is tight against the cap with a star-studded list of skill-position players that also includes WR Deebo Samuel, RB Christian McCaffrey and TE George Kittle (groin). Trade rumors may continue to surround Aiyuk this offseason even after Lynch's denial, but considering San Francisco's status as a win-now roster and high-end contender in the NFC, the team likely places extreme value on the 26-year-old wideout's continued presence, even if only for the short term. |
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George Kittle George Kittle Recovering from core muscle surgery
Mon, Mar 25, 2024, 11:18 AM
GM John Lynch said Monday that Kittle is recovering from an offseason procedure intended to address a core muscle injury, and that the tight end is on track to be fully cleared by training camp, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Analysis: Kittle also recently restructured his contract, a move that freed up roughly $10 million in cap space for the 49ers, likely by converting a portion of his base salary for 2024 into a bonus. Across 16 regular-season games last year, the two-time All-Pro secured 65 of 90 targets for 1,020 yards and six scores. Recovery from core muscle surgery shouldn't impede Kittle's ability to participate in on-field reps this offseason, though even if he did sit out a portion of training camp, it wouldn't impact the veteran tight end's status as one of the top fantasy options amid a sparse positional landscape. |
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Joshua Dobbs Joshua Dobbs Finds work in San Francisco
Mon, Mar 18, 2024, 5:37 PM
The 49ers and Dobbs agreed to a contract Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: In 13 games (12 starts) between the Cardinals and Vikings this past season, Dobbs completed 262 of 417 (62.8 percent) of his passes for 2,464 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also was viable as a runner, averaging 5.5 yards on his 77 carries while scoring six TDs on the ground. Brock Purdy is the unquestioned starting quarterback for San Francisco, but Dobbs' recent on-field work should give him a leg up on the backup job ahead of holdover Brandon Allen. |
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Chris Conley Chris Conley Returns to San Francisco
Sat, Mar 16, 2024, 3:34 PM
The 49ers re-signed Conley on a one-year deal Saturday.
Analysis: The veteran wideout will remain in San Francisco after spending last season with the 49ers. Conley saw minimal offensive work in 2023, playing just 110 offensive snaps and recording 69 receiving yards on three receptions. Given that he appeared in only eight games last year, Conley will likely be competing for another depth role in San Francisco's wide receiver room as the offseason progresses. |
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George Kittle George Kittle Restructures contract
Fri, Mar 15, 2024, 10:23 AM
Kittle and the 49ers have reached agreement on a restructured contract, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Analysis: This likely has no impact on Kittle's standing or future; it's probably just converting his base salary into bonus money and/or adding void years to clear up 2024 cap space. The 49ers have been tight up against the cap for a few seasons now, consistently in win-now mode with a star-studded roster that includes Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk as playmakers on offense. An extension for Aiyuk could be on the docket this offseason, as he's scheduled to play out 2024 under the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. Kittle, meanwhile, has two years left on his deal. |
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Kyle Juszczyk Kyle Juszczyk Restructures deal
Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 12:48 PM
Juszczyk and the 49ers have agreed to a restructured contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Juszczyk's reworked deal will free up about $1.75 million in cap space for the 49ers, who are looking to retool in the offseason after losing in the Super Bowl. The versatile fullback signed a five-year, $27 million contract with San Francisco back in March of 2021. |
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Jauan Jennings Jauan Jennings Gets second-round tender
Mon, Mar 11, 2024, 5:25 PM
The Niners gave Jennings a second-round restricted free agent tender Monday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Analysis: This gives the Niners the right to match any offer Jennings receives from another team, with a second-round pick coming back in return if they decline. No team is going to give up a pick that early for the right to hand Jennings a considerable contract, meaning a trade is now the only way he'd end up on a new team for 2024. While he hasn't seen many targets as the No. 3 receiver in a loaded offense, Jennings had Super Bowl MVP hype at one point in the big game when it looked like the Niners might win and he had a passing TD and a receiving score. Fantasy relevance in 2024 seems unlikely if fellow wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel both are on the team and healthy. |
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Brandon Allen Brandon Allen Sticking around in San Francisco
Mon, Mar 11, 2024, 12:50 PM
The 49ers are set to re-sign Allen as a backup quarterback, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Allen did not appear in a game for the 49ers last season, as he operated only as the team's emergency third quarterback, but he could step up to a more important role behind Brock Purdy for the 2024 campaign if Sam Darnold isn't re-signed. Now heading into his age-32 season, Allen is also capable of contributing in a mentorship role. |
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Brandon Aiyuk Brandon Aiyuk Team seeking extension
Tue, Feb 27, 2024, 3:02 PM
49ers general manager John Lynch said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team wants to sign Aiyuk to a long-term contract extension, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Lynch spoke strongly about Aiyuk's future, saying "we've got a nice track record of extending guys and [Aiyuk] is a guy we'd like to keep around." Now entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, and coming off a standout 75-1,342-7 receiving line across 16 games in 2023, the wideout will be set for a big payday regardless of what team he ends up with. Aiyuk has improved upon his yardage and touchdown totals each season in the NFL, so it wouldn't be unheard of for him to take another step forward during the 2024 campaign. |
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Charlie Woerner Charlie Woerner Little usage across 17 games
Mon, Feb 12, 2024, 6:18 PM
Woerner finished the 2023 campaign with three receptions on as many targets for 32 yards in 17 games as a backup for the 49ers.
Analysis: Woerner spent the majority of his season either sitting behind starter George Kittle or helping pave ways for San Francisco's rushing attack in heavy packages. The Georgia product's three receptions actually marked an improvement over the zero he tallied over 17 games in 2022. After playing out all four years of his rookie contract, Woerner will now become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his professional career. |
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Brock Purdy Brock Purdy Plays well in first SB appearance
Sun, Feb 11, 2024, 11:08 PM
Purdy completed 23 of 38 pass attempts for 255 yards and a touchdown while adding three carries for 12 yards in Sunday's 25-22 overtime loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.
Analysis: Purdy was ready for the big moment and handled everything defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo could throw at him despite falling short in the overtime period. The rising star QB surrendered just one sack for a loss of four yards while finishing 10 rating points behind Patrick Mahomes (99.3 QBR), whose final touchdown drive for Kansas City earned him the game's Most Valuable Player award. Even with the heartbreaking finish, Purdy's 2023 season can only be described as a smashing success after he completed 69 percent of his passes for 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns across 16 starts. San Francisco should still have multiple star playmakers surrounding the young quarterback next season as the team looks to get back to the big game in 2024. |
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Christian McCaffrey Christian McCaffrey Stellar 160-yard effort not enough
Sun, Feb 11, 2024, 10:32 PM
McCaffrey rushed 22 times for 80 yards while corralling all eight of his targets for 80 yards and a touchdown in a 25-22 overtime loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.
Analysis: McCaffrey's day got off to an ominous start when he fumbled away his fourth touch of the 49ers' opening drive in Kansas City territory. The NFL's Offensive Player of the Year responded by scoring the game's first touchdown on a trick play in the second quarter, finishing with game highs in yards (180) and touches (30) despite coming up short in overtime. CMC wraps up his first full season in San Francisco with 2,443 combined yards and 26 total touchdowns across 19 regular and postseason contests. Under contract through 2025, McCaffrey will head a retooled 49ers offense next year while likely being one of the first options taken off the boards in mock fantasy drafts. |
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Deebo Samuel Deebo Samuel Returns to Super Bowl
Sun, Feb 11, 2024, 8:21 PM
Samuel (hamstring) returned to Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Analysis: Samuel went down with a non-contact injury midway through the third quarter but wasn't forced to miss any time. He'll return to his typical role in the 49ers' offense. |
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