Why 49ers adding QB Josh Dobbs makes sense

Here’s why the #49ers signed another veteran quarterback:

The 49ers are set to sign veteran signal caller Josh Dobbs to a one-year contract. Dobbs’ agent announced the agreement on Twitter Monday afternoon.

Dobbs is the second quarterback the 49ers have signed this offseason. He’ll join Brandon Allen and Brock Purdy in San Francisco’s QB room.

It looked like the 49ers might be content with Allen as their QB2 and a draft pick sitting as the emergency third signal caller. Instead they brought in Dobbs to presumably compete for the backup QB job, leaving Allen to potentially work in as the emergency third QB on game days. That opens the door for a rookie to work out with the practice squad assuming he doesn’t pull a Purdy and beat out one of the veterans for a roster spot out of camp.

Dobbs is an intriguing addition though with plenty of upside. His Cinderella run with the Vikings fell flat after just a couple of weeks, but Dobbs showed during his 12 starts last year with the Cardinals and Vikings that he’s a capable starting QB in the NFL.

There are warts to his game, to be sure. Sometimes he has too much faith in his arm and his accuracy can be erratic, but he’s a mobile QB with enough upside that he’s a viable backup for a team like the 49ers. And backup QB is an extremely important position in San Francisco.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Dobbs will earn $2.25 million fully guaranteed with up to $750,000 in playing time incentives.

Purdy made it easy to forget the 49ers’ recent history with injuries under center. His healthy 2023 campaign though will unlikely erase the scars left by all the previous seasons the 49ers saw derailed because of an injury to the starting QB. They may have confidence that Allen can go win a few games if he’s pushed into a starting role, but he’s hardly done enough as a pro to warrant that level of confidence out of camp.

Now instead of competing with a rookie, he’ll be competing with a bonafide NFL QB who’ll either be better or force Allen to earn the all-important QB2 job.

Adding another quarterback didn’t appear to be super high on the 49ers’ list of offseason needs, but they were able to find a third at an affordable price that should ultimately improve their QB room regardless of whether he winds up as QB2 or QB3.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers lose draft pick after accounting error

The #49ers were penalized in the draft for an accounting error.

The NFL is penalizing the 49ers twice in upcoming NFL drafts thanks to an accounting error at the end of the 2022 season. San Francisco will have its fifth-round pick in next year’s draft revoked, and their No. 131 pick in the fourth round this year will be moved to the end of the round instead.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle posted on Twitter that the league determined the error wasn’t made intentionally and that the 49ers would’ve been under the salary cap even without the mistake.

 

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Good riddance, Aaron Donald

Aaron Donald retired. 49ers fans rejoice.

Aaron Donald is retiring from the NFL in what may be the best news the 49ers receive all offseason.

Donald spent 10 seasons with the Rams after they selected him 13th overall in the 2014 NFL draft. He spent those 10 seasons dominating the NFL and terrorizing the 49ers, who he saw twice per season.

In 18 games against the 49ers, Donald posted 12.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss. The Rams won just five of those games, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying from Donald.

The star defensive tackle dominated their most important matchup though. In the 2021 NFC championship game he posted four pressures, including one on San Francisco’s final offensive play of the game.

While the 49ers had success against Donald’s club, they should be rejoicing they no longer have to deal with him. Even as a 32-year-old 10-year veteran, Donald posted 84 pressures and 10 sacks last season. His absence in the 49ers’ two matchups vs. the Rams next season will be an extremely welcome sight for San Francisco.

Donald in 10 years went to 10 Pro Bowls, notched eight First-Team All-Pro nods, a Defensive Rookie of the Year award, three Defensive Player of the Year wins and seven top-five DPOY finishes. It’s unclear whether he eventually learned who Deebo Samuel is.

What a career.

Now good riddance.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers to sign former All-Pro LB De’Vondre Campbell

The #49ers are adding a former All-Pro LB, but for real this time (hopefully).

The 49ers are trying again to add a former All-Pro linebacker. After missing out on former Chargers LB Eric Kendricks, San Francisco agreed to a deal with former Packers LB De’Vondre Campbell according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.

Campbell, 30, was a fourth-round pick of the Falcons in the 2016 draft. He spent the first four years of his career there before joining the Cardinals for one season, and the Packers for three seasons. Green Bay released Campbell on Wednesday when the new league year began.

After a fine first five years where he posted 303 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 25 tackles for loss three interceptions and 19 pass breakups, Campbell broke out in 2021 with an All-Pro campaign. In that 2021 season he racked up a career-high 146 tackles with 2.0 sacks and two interceptions.

His play has taken a dip in the two seasons since, and he’s missed a total of 10 games in that stretch.

While he may not reach All-Pro-level play again, Campbell is still a quality, starting-caliber player who should benefit from playing next to Fred Warner and behind a very good defensive line.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers officially announce release of DL Arik Armstead

It’s official: Arik Armstead has been released.

The Arik Armstead era is over in San Francisco. The 49ers on Wednesday announced his release as part of their roster moves to kick off the new league year. They also officially announced the return of quarterback Brandon Allen and a one-year extension for offensive lineman Colton McKivitz.

There was a little optimism entering Wednesday that the 49ers might be able to find a deal with Armstead where he returned at a lower salary number, but he opted for free agency as was originally reported. It became clear his return wasn’t happening once the 49ers’ acquisition of defensive tackle Maliek Collins in a trade with the Texans was reported.

By waiting until the start of the new league year to let Armstead go the 49ers can designate him as a post-June 1 release which saves them a ton of money against the cap. They’ll still eat $10,313,824 in dead cap, but they’ll save $18,039,412 against the cap in June by giving him a post-June 1 designation.

Armstead is now free to sign with another club.

The 49ers selected Armstead No. 17 overall in the 2015 draft. He put together a terrific nine seasons in San Francisco where he posted 33.5 sacks and became a vital piece of their defensive line after dealing with a slew of injuries in the early part of his career. Armstead is still a versatile defender and run stopper, and he won’t be 31 until November.

Injuries forced him to miss 13 games the last two seasons, but when he’s been healthy he’s been a productive player who should be able to help a defensive line.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers can’t be done adding edge depth after agreeing to deals with 2 DEs

The 49ers did a nice job adding at DE on Monday, but they can’t stop now.

The 49ers on Monday showed what their top priority was in free agency when they quickly scooped up two affordable defensive ends in the first day of the NFL’s legal negotiating window. Deals agreed upon during that window won’t become official until the league year begins Wednesday at 1:00pm Pacific Time.

San Francisco added veteran DEs Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos on relatively affordable two-year deals. While the big-time splash along the defensive line isn’t likely coming, they can’t be done adding depth on the edges.

Adding defensive end help was maybe the second-biggest offseason need for the 49ers. Having a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate at one end is nice, but San Francisco has placed a major emphasis on its defensive front. They needed additional help for Bosa with Drake Jackson and Robert Beal Jr. as the only other DEs slated to potentially play major roles in 2024.

Floyd and Gross-Matos will help in that realm. The former was a full-time starter for the Bills last season, but he played just 54 percent of Buffalo’s defensive snaps. Meanwhile, Gross-Matos missed five games and started only half of the 12 games he played. That’s not to say he can’t develop into a full-time starter, which he was for the Panthers in 2022, but his production as a pass rusher has always left something to be desired if he’s going to be on the field for a majority of the team’s snaps.

Ideally the 49ers would utilize Gross-Matos as a versatile pass rusher in the same vein as Charles Omenihu during his couple of seasons in San Francisco. Floyd may start, but he’s probably limited to being more of a pass-rush specialist instead of an every-down player.

Both players should be very valuable for a 49ers defensive line that struggled with consistency and overall production last year. However, given the rotational role both players figure to occupy, more depth will be a necessity for the 49ers.

Perhaps they view Jackson and Beal as those depth pieces. Jackson has flashed a handful of times in 23 games as a pro, but he’s still an unproven commodity despite his big-time upside. Beal was a rookie last season and saw action in only four games, although he did record a sack in Week 18 when he played a career-high 24 defensive snaps.

Neither player has done enough as a pro to inspire the kind of confidence the 49ers will want in their edge depth. They’ll get opportunities, but San Francisco would be wise to either find another inexpensive free agent, or use an early draft pick at DE.

Either way the 49ers have done a nice job filling out their barren DE depth chart so far. They just have to ensure they’re not satisfied just yet or else they run the risk of falling short at one of the most important positions on their roster for the second consecutive year.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers free agent QB Sam Darnold to sign with Vikings

Sam Darnold turned his one season as the #49ers’ backup into a big-time raise.

The Vikings on Monday learned quarterback Kirk Cousins is exiting Minnesota in free agency to join the Atlanta Falcons once the new league year begins. Minnesota’s vacancy at quarterback opened the door for the club to agree to a deal with unrestricted free agent QB Sam Darnold per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.

Darnold after one season with San Francisco agreed to a one-year deal with the Vikings worth up to $10 million.

This was partially the goal for Darnold when he signed on to be the 49ers’ backup signal caller last season. He needed a reset after a tumultuous first five seasons where he had three unsuccessful years with the Jets and two more rough seasons in Carolina.

Darnold acquitted himself well in limited action for San Francisco and one year after agreeing to a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the 49ers, he earned a $10 million deal to potentially be the starting quarterback in Minnesota.

Last season Darnold appeared in 10 games, although he only threw passes in half of them. He lost his only start against the Rams in the final week of the season when most of the 49ers’ starters rested. For the year he completed 60.9 percent of his throws with two touchdowns, one interception and 6.5 yards per attempt.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Report: 49ers to sign former Panthers DE Yetur Gross-Matos to 2-year deal

The former second-round pick recorded 4.5 sacks last season with the Panthers.

After reportedly signing veteran edge rusher Leonard Floyd earlier on Monday, the San Francisco 49ers weren’t done adding to their defensive line.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the 49ers are signing former Panthers defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos to a two-year contract worth $18 million.

Via @RapSheet on Twitter:

Gross-Matos spent his first four seasons with the Panthers after being drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Penn State. In four seasons, Gross-Matos has racked up 13 sacks and 19 tackles for loss.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers tender one-year contract to restricted free agent WR Jauan Jennings

Jauan Jennings recorded 19 receptions for 265 yards and a touchdown during the regular season with the 49ers in 2023.

After reportedly signing veteran edge rusher Leonard Floyd to a contract, the San Francisco 49ers turned its attention to one of their own. On Monday afternoon, the 49ers announced they had tendered a one-year contract to restricted free agent pass catcher Jauan Jennings.

Via @49ers on Twitter:

According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, the 49ers tendered Jennings at the second-round level and he will now be set to make $4.89 million for the upcoming season.

While the 49ers will still have the chance to negotiate a multi-year deal with Jennings, any other team that attempts to sign Jennings will have to send the 49ers a second-round draft pick if they don’t match the offer.

Jennings has spent three seasons with the 49ers since landing in Santa Clara out of Tennessee from the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Last season, Jennings recorded 19 receptions for 265 yards and a touchdown during the regular season. Jennings broke out in the Super Bowl, catching four passes for 42 yards and a touchdown reception, along with passing a touchdown.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers to add DE Leonard Floyd on 2-year contract

The #49ers made their first big free agency move and added some edge help.

The 49ers are getting some edge help with their first big free agency move. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport on Monday reported San Francisco is signing veteran defensive end Leonard Floyd to a two-year deal. Rapoport reported the contract is worth up to $24 million with $12 million guaranteed in 2024.

Floyd has been in the NFL for eight seasons and turns 32 at the start of the 2024 campaign.

In 121 games (120 starts) he has 58 sacks and 63 tackles for loss. Last season with Buffalo Floyd tied his career-high with 10.5 sacks. In the last four seasons he hasn’t posted fewer than 9.0 sacks.

He now enters a 49ers DE room that desperately needs help. Nick Bosa is the only major contributor returning with Drake Jackson coming off of injury and Robert Beal Jr. entering his second season after making sparse contributions as a rookie in 2023.

The Floyd addition shouldn’t mean the 49ers are done at DE, and they’ll probably want to add another starting-caliber player there. Last year for the Bills he played a career-low 54 percent of the defensive snaps.

With Arik Armstead set to exit in free agency though, the 49ers need as much pass rush help as they can get, and Floyd has a long track record of providing it.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]