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The 49ers on Thursday announced their third free agent signing of the offseason. Long snapper Taybor Pepper inked a two-year deal to return to the club. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported the pact will earn Pepper $300,000 in guaranteed money.
Pepper was set to hit restricted free agency where he likely would’ve received a one-year deal that wouldn’t have come with any guaranteed money. By signing early he avoids the RFA market and pulls in the $300,000 guaranteed.
San Francisco added Pepper in Week 4 last season after long snapper Kyle Nelson struggled in a Week 3 blowout vs. the New York Giants where he had multiple errant snaps. Pepper spent the rest of the season with the club and long snapping was no longer an issue.
Re-signing the 26-year-old long snapper takes one of the myriad issues facing the 49ers in the offseason. While the snap is a fairly routine part of the special teams, it can change games if it becomes a problem.
Pepper joins cornerback Ken Webster and running back Jeff Wilson Jr. as the early offseason signings for San Francisco.