Draft Review

The 49ers selected players at many of their needs. But did they select the right players?

It's highly likely that the people who assign grades based on their own rankings and knee-jerk reactions will not assign a gold star to the 49ers' draft class.

But the only thing that matters is how the players perform, and if those selected are able to contribute to a rise in the 49ers' win totals over the next few seasons. So until those returns come in, it's just the 49ers' opinion vs. everyone else's.

OLB Aldon Smith Missouri (6-5, 260)

First round, No. 7 overall

He impressed the 49ers with his willingness to return after three weeks to play with a fractured fibula. He's young, having just turned 21, and still developing his pass-rush technique. He mostly played defensive end in college, so it's a projection to think he can be effective in the transition to outside linebacker, where he's slated to replace Manny Lawson. If he struggles with the new position, he should still be able to get on the field immediately on third downs when he'll line up at defensive end to get after the quarterback.



QB Colin Kaepernick Nevada (6-4 5/8; 230)

Second round, No. 36 overall

Yes, he's a project. But, as Harbaugh pointed out, all young quarterbacks are projects. Kaepernick comes from Nevada's "Pistol" offense and will have to learn how to take snaps under center and get out of the mindset of using his legs as much as his throwing arm. Harbaugh says Alex Smith is the favorite to be the 49ers' starting quarterback this season -- now that Smith has convinced Harbaugh that he'll re-sign once the NFL opens the door to free agency. Harbaugh has given Smith a copy of the new 49ers playbook. "There's some trust there," Harbaugh said.

CB Chris Culliver South Carolina (6-0 3/8; 199)

Third round, No. 80 overall

The 49ers began a run of cornerbacks in the middle of the third round. Within the next 10 pick, cornerbacks DeMarcus Van Dyke (Miami), Johnny Patrick (Louisville), Shareece Wright (USC) and Curtis Marsh (Utah State) went off the board. The 49ers drafted Culliver as a cornerback, where he played as a senior. He has experience at safety and has kick-return skills, too. Culliver adds speed and athleticism to the secondary. But is he a better option as a 2011 starter than veterans Nate Clements or Shawntae Spencer?

RB Kendall Hunter Oklahoma State (5-7 1/4, 199)

Fourth round, No. 115 overall

The 49ers brought in Hunter for a visit several weeks before the draft to gauge his ability to learn and adapt to an NFL offense. Obviously, Hunter left a strong enough impression. The club added the exciting runner as a player who should be able to take at least a handful of carries every game away from workhorse Frank Gore. Of the 10 players the 49ers selected in this draft, Hunter might be in line to have the greatest immediate production. His first task is to wrestle the backup job away from Anthony Dixon.

C-G Daniel Kilgore Appalachian State (6-3, 308)

Fifth round, No. 163 overall

The 49ers are set at both tackle positions and left guard. But there is uncertainty at center and right guard. Center David Baas is a free agent, and Eric Heitmann's future is in doubt after missing last season with a neck injury. Right guard Chilo Rachal has been inconsistent. The 49ers were high enough on Kilgore that they traded up 11 spots into the end of the fifth round to select him. Kilgore played both guard and tackle spots in college. He played center in a spread offense in high school. He also lined up there in the Texas vs. Nation All-Star Game.

WR Ronald Johnson USC (5-10 3/4, 185)

Sixth round, No. 182 overall

The 49ers selected slot receiver/return man Kyle Williams in the sixth round last year. In Johnson, the 49ers got a similar player in about the same draft spot. Johnson got a glowing recommendation from 49ers receivers coach John Morton, who worked with Johnson the past four seasons as a USC position coach. "My ears and Trent's ears really perk up when you hear that," Harbaugh said. "The guy loves the game, loves practice. That's the best hours of his day is when he's out there on the practice field. Those things when they're coming from the position coach, and he's so passionate about it, that's the thing that really gets your attention." Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan are secure as the starters. Johnson will compete with Ted Ginn, Williams and Dominique Zeigler to get onto the field.

S Colin Jones TCU (5-11 1/2, 201)

Sixth round, No. 190 overall

Interestingly, Jones' best college game came on the biggest stage, when he put together a strong all-around performance against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. Harbaugh was at TCU's pro day and chatting with quarterback Andy Dalton when Jones ran a great time in the 40. Dalton identified Jones for Harbaugh, who immediately took notice. "There's a guy," Harbaugh said, "that I cannot wait to watch him run down on a kickoff, full throttle, running his 4.3 with his mindset to get from point A to Point B and go hit somebody."

FB Bruce Miller Central Florida (6-1 5/8, 248)

Seventh round, No. 211 overall

This was the most curious pick of the 49ers' draft. At the combine, Miller was talking to 49ers linebackers coach Jim Leavitt. But in the days leading up to the draft, running backs coach Tom Rathman received the handoff. Miller was the Conference-USA defensive player of the year while recording 8.5 sacks as a defensive end. (That's three more sacks than Aldon Smith recorded during his injury-plagued final season.) The 49ers have Miller slated to be a fullback. But he's a guy Harbaugh said he just wanted on his team, period. "It's like a blinking light, 'I'm a football player, I'm a football player.'" Harbaugh said. "He may also be a pass rusher too. So, we're not closing the door on any options with that youngster. I think he is a football player."

C-G Mike Person Montana State (6-4 1/2, 299)

Seventh round, No. 239 overall

Person is in the same mold as Kilgore, whom the 49ers selected two rounds earlier. Both Person and Kilgore played left tackle during their senior seasons. "So, we looked at those guys, both Person and Kilgore, as guys that played the most difficult position on the offensive line," Baalke said. "(Both) had the athletic traits that we were looking for -- the toughness, the intelligence to develop and move inside." It was quite a day for Person. Later Saturday, he was named the winner of the Little Sullivan Award, as the outstanding amateur male athlete in the state of Montana.

CB Curtis Holcomb Florida A&M (5-10, 192)

Seventh round, No. 250 overall

The 49ers selected their second cornerback with their final pick. Holcomb was extremely grateful the 49ers and, specifically, defensive backs coach Ed Donatell, would take a chance on a small-college player. Holcomb was a starter throughout his college career with 12 interceptions. "I played on three out of four special teams," Holcomb said. "I'm a cornerback, a special-teams guy, an overall complete football player."

Niners Have Dropped The Ball In Desperate Quest For Wideouts

Matt Maiacco, The Press Democrat


The 49ers continue to search for answers at wide receiver. It is one area of the 49ers' roster in which Scot McCloughan and Mike Nolan have really struggled since coming on board in 2005.
With their release of Darrell Jackson today, the 49ers officially admitted their failure in giving up a fourth-round draft pick to acquire his services a year ago. Jackson was inconsistent last season. He had several critical dropped passes, including one in the end zone against the Rams that could've won a game. Jackson did not fare well for much of the season, as the 49ers received all-around lousy play the passing game. Still, just last week, McCloughan said he expected Jackson and Isaac Bruce to be the starting receivers. In the meantime, the 49ers added receiver Bryant Johnson. Based on what McCloughan said, that means Jackson was no worse than the No. 3 receiver on the team.

Nolan last night called Jackson to inform him he was released. The 49ers aren't doing much talking to the local media these days, so we can only assume why this move was made now.
Perhaps, they figured Jackson was not worth $4 million in salary. That's a reasonable assessment.

The 49ers have no salary-cap issues, but the basic economics of the game dictate that you can't pay a guy that kind of money if you believe his production will not justify his salary. After all, Bryant Johnson is scheduled to make $2 million on his one-year contract. If he was going to be starting ahead of Jackson, that wouldn't have made sense. A year ago, the 49ers traded for Jackson. They coughed up a fourth-round draft pick to the division-rival Seahawks. Obviously, the Seahawks got the better end of that deal. The Seahawks, who have ruled the NFC West for a while, knew what they were doing.

Here are some of the other things that have gone wrong for the 49ers at the wideout spots since 2005:
--Brandon Lloyd was the 49ers' leading receiver in 2005, but he was universally disliked. He made incredible catches but was terrified to go across the middle or block. Any mention of Lloyd has to be regarded as this regime's best move when it comes to wideouts. After all, the 49ers traded him the Redskins in 2006 for two draft picks.
--Rasheed Marshall was selected in the fifth round of the 2005 draft. The 49ers tried to convert the former West Virginia quarterback to wide receiver/return man. He didn't fare well in either duty. His 49ers career consisted on one reception for negative-1 yard.
--Johnnie Morton was at the end of his career when the 49ers signed him in 2005. He caught 21 passes, and was generally a non-factor. The 49ers released him following the season, and he went on to get his butt kicked as an ultimate fighter.
--Brandon Williams was selected with the 84th overall pick. The 49ers envisioned him as a slot receiver/return specialist. He never caught a pass and was ultra-boring as a return man. After just three games of his second season, the 49ers released him to bring in ancient returnman Michael Lewis.
--Antonio Bryant is the most talented receiver the 49ers have had since the departure of Terrell Owens, but his off-the-field issues resulted in a four-game suspension at the end of the 2006 season. This came after Nolan met individually with an unsigned Bryant and felt assured that he had matured enough to be given a chance to join the 49ers. But after Bryant's suspension, the 49ers arrived at the conclusion that he could not be counted on. He was dumped after one season.
--Taylor Jacobs was acquired in a trade with the Redskins for Mike Rumph. There was nothing wrong with that trade because Rumph was going to get cut, anyway. Jacobs had a great offseason last year but never carried it over to the games. He began last season as the No. 3 receiver, but he had a few drops and ran a wrong route against the Steelers that resulted in an interception return for a touchdown.
--Bryan Gilmore is a favorite of receivers coach Jerry Sullivan, who fought hard for him to make the team out of camp last summer. Gilmore was cut. But after Jacobs faltered, the 49ers re-signed Gilmore for the fifth game of the season. Despite being out of work for the first month of the season, Gilmore immediately stepped in to become the No. 3 receiver. Gilmore played 26 games with the 49ers mostly as the No. 3 receiver (he also started three games), yet he caught only 15 passes.
--Ashley Lelie was signed a year ago to a two-year, $4.2 million contract. Lelie was signed as a deep threat. Yet, he rarely got on the practice field during training camp and had zero impact during the season. After a loss to the Ravens, Mike Nolan admitted he had a conversation with opposing defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who said the Ravens were prepared to double-team Lelie because of his speed. However, Lelie rarely got on the field that game. Lelie finished the season with 10 catches for 115 yards.
--Jason McAddley was another player Sullivan really liked after coaching him with the Cardinals. McAddley caught seven passes in 2005 and never played another down for the club.
--LeRon McCoy stole 10 game checks from the 49ers, who placed him on their 53-man roster after five games. He never suited up for a game. And when the 49ers released him prior to the final game of the season to make room for QB Drew Olson, he left the organization for good.
--Jason Hill was a third-round draft pick with a lot of potential. He was hampered by injuries as a rookie. When he was healthy, he was never really given a chance to show what he could do. Hill saw action in just five games and caught just one pass.
--Marcus Maxwell was worth a seventh-round draft pick. Big and fast, Maxwell was seen as a guy who had a chance to develop. He spent just four games on the 49ers' active roster his first two seasons. (He was kept on the practice squad most of that time.) He tore it up in NFL Europe, but did not get much of a chance last year in 49ers training camp. The club released him and he's now with the Bengals.
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It should also be noted, on the positive side, that the current regime renegotiated Arnaz Battle's contract in March 2007. He is signed through 2009 at a very reasonable price. I wouldn't at all be surprised if Battle were the most reliable wideout on the team again this season.
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So that brings us to the moves the 49ers have made this offseason. The club has signed Johnson and Bruce.

The 49ers were not at all interested in Johnson at the start of free agency because they figured he would get more money than he's worth. As it turns out, there were no takers. Johnson fell into the 49ers' lap at $2 million for one year. That's not a bad price for a one-year test drive.
Bruce is near the end of his career, but he has one thing going for him: He's the only receiver on the roster who knows Mike Martz's offense. The 49ers signed him to a two-year, $6 million contract.

You gotta believe these moves will work out better than the other moves the 49ers have made in recent seasons. But, seriously, how could they turn out worse?
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After Disappointing Year, 49ers' Jackson Is Waived

Matt Barrows, Sacramento Bee

Coach Mike Nolan called Jackson on Friday night to tell him that he would be waived, according to Jackson's agent. The call came on the same day the 49ers signed another wide receiver, former Arizona Cardinals wideout Bryant Johnson, to a one-year deal. "I always had a great deal of respect for Darrell as a player in the NFL," Nolan said in a statement Saturday. "I appreciated his dedication and work ethic during his season with the 49ers. He always had a positive attitude every day he came to work. While we are going in a different direction, I know he can still produce and be an asset to an NFL team this year."

The 49ers traded a 2007 fourth-round draft choice to the Seattle Seahawks to acquire Jackson in April. The eight-year veteran has nearly 7,000 receiving yards but struggled last year in the 49ers' 32nd-ranked offense. He finished the season with 497 receiving yards and three touchdowns, and dropped a number of passes. His agent, Brian Mooney, said Jackson was surprised by the decision but happy that it was made well before teams start meeting for minicamps.

"There are no hard feelings," Mooney said. "We appreciate them doing this when they did. It gives us a chance to hit the market aggressively."

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Justin Smith Signs In San Francisco

Saturday - 7:50 am (PST) - The NFL Network is reporting that the 49ers have come to terms with Bengals DE Justin Smith late Friday evening. He took a helicopter tour of the South Bay Friday afternoon with Mike Nolan. He had dinner last night with Nolan and, perhaps, a few coaches. Smith's agent, Jim Steiner, who confirmed the helicopter ride and dinner Friday evening, said he was not sure who would be joining Smith and Nolan for dinner.

The deal is reported to be for 6 years/$45 million with $20 million guaranteed.

Free Agent Friday - Day One Recap

A recap of the first day of free-agency chronologically by Matt Maiocco , The Press Democrat

9:41 a.m.: I asked (via text message) Justin Smith's agent, Jim Steiner, if his client will visit the Vikings after meeting with the 49ers today. His answer: "That's our intent!"
10:58 a.m.: This has nothing to do with free agency, but the 49ers have announced that Candlestick Park will be Candlestick Park once again in June after the naming-rights contract with Monster runs out. Did anyone really call it Monster, anyway?
10:59 a.m.: The 49ers' first official signing is in the books. The club has signed return specialist Allen Rossum, whom the Steelers cut eight days ago. Rossum's deal is one year for the veteran minimum.
11:36 a.m.: I've heard the 49ers have started serious talks with recently released Rams receiver Isaac Bruce. Mike Martz, understandably, really wants him.
11:52 a.m.: OK, I arrived at the 49ers' team complex in Santa Clara a few minutes ago after my hour-plus drive from home. It's my understanding that Justin Smith has not yet arrived. The 49ers obviously do not want Smith to leave today without a contract. But how high are they willing to go to sign him. I've been told the club is prepared to spend in the neighborhood of $8 million annually.
12:12 p.m.: Don't hold your breath waiting for an Alan Faneca signing with the 49ers. Although it's true that the 49ers made initial contact, it does not appear they are real serious players. The word is that Faneca is going to the Jets for $20 million guaranteed, which is what was reported here on Wednesday.
12:17 p.m.: Frankly, I'm surprised the talk of Faneca has gotten this far. That's a heck of a lot of money to pay at a position that GM Scot McCloughan is on record as saying should not get big, big bucks. Right now, the 49ers have David Baas, Adam Snyder and Tony Wragge as potential starting guards. Also, you can be sure they'll add another couple players -- think second tier free agent and/or the draft.
12:20 p.m.: If the early reports about Kwame Harris are true (five years, $27.5 million with $10 million to sign from the Raiders), it makes that Joe Staley acquisition look really, really good. After all, Harris was Staley's backup. If Harris can command that kind of money, how much is Staley worth right now?
12:35 p.m.: Just another confirmation of a confirmation. LB Dontarrious Thomas, I'm told,"It's a done deal."
12:59 a.m.: While there's a lull, I thought I'd pass along a link to the latest Cohn vs. Cohn, in which they relive the experience of Steve Young meeting the young Cohn a few years back.
1:11 p.m.: To my knowledge, Isaac Bruce is the only receiver the 49ers are pursuing. McCloughan said yesterday that there are a dearth of No. 1 receivers in free agency, and that is a position that is not a lot of value for the buck. Martz's offense is complex, especially for receivers. Bruce would be the only receiver with prior knowledge of the system. This draft got a lot deeper with the influx of junior WRs. Martz has been darn good about finding guys to fit his system in the draft.
1:21 p.m.: There is a report Lance Briggs will visit with the Buccaneers. I can't confirm that. But, for the 1,000th time, I can say that the 49ers aren't in the mix.
1:45 p.m.: Still waiting to confirm the presence of Justin Smith and Isaac Bruce in the building. Hopefully, official word will be coming shortly.
1:49 p.m.: The 49ers have locked the back gate, just outside the media trailer. Apparently, the entrance/exit to be used is through the back. I can't get back there now. There is also word that the club does not plan to let the media have any contact with any free agent(s) who might be in the building.
1:52 p.m. Justin Smith is HERE. It's been confirmed.
2:30 p.m.: The waiting game continues . . . in the meantime, some have wondered about the end of NFL Europe. Just ran into Fitz Ollison, who formerly worked for the 49ers. He is joining the All American Football League, which kicks off April 14 in college towns. It is seen as a league that will cater to a bunch of the players who might have found themselves on NFL Europe rosters in the past. Teams are located in Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and Michigan.
2:42 p.m.: The NFL Network is on in the background. They're running old stuff from the combine. They're showing the linebacker drills and, man, Jason Tarver is getting some major face time on TV. Tarver is on the 49ers' coaching staff as defensive assistant/outside linebackers.
3:14 p.m.: Isaac Bruce is not here. (Never was here today.) And Justin Smith has left the building (without being detected.
3:15 p.m.: I can only presume at this point that Smith has left without a contract agreement and his free-agency tour continues. As for Bruce, I believe there is still a strong possibility that he ends up in a 49ers uniform this season.
3:24 p.m.: The guys at the Star Tribune write that Smith is tentatively scheduled to visit the Vikings on Saturday. Earlier today when I communicated with Smith's agent, he said it was their "intent" to visit the Vikings. He hasn't returned my text messages or calls since.
3:54 p.m.: OK, it's official but not official. QB J.T. O'Sullivan has agreed to terms with the 49ers, said his agent Steve Baker. The contract will be signed in the coming days.
3:58 p.m.: Here comes word from Jim Steiner, Justin Smith's agent: "Nothing to report (with the 49ers). He is scheduled to go to (Minnesota) tomorrow."
4:13 p.m.: Don't think the 49ers are going to over-extend on Smith. They're willing to pay him a very nice contract, but I'm told their ceiling is about $8 million a year.
4:25 p.m.: OK, so let's take a look at the 49ers' own free agents. Obviously, the O'Sullivan agreement closes the door on Trent Dilfer's return; the additions of Rossum and Foster mean Maurice Hicks won't be back; the attention Kwame Harris is receiving means there is no way he'll be returning to the 49ers. (Word last night was that Harris was going to get a lucrative deal with the Raiders, but he will make additional visits.) The 49ers remain interested in Marques Douglas, but unless he settles for something around $2 million a year, he'll be playing elsewhere. (The Buccaneers are a possibility.)
4:35 p.m.: Is it still Friday?
4:38 p.m.: Saw Jed York through the fence a little while ago. I asked if his team has signed Isaac Bruce, yet. He just smiled and said he'd be reading this blog to find out. Nice.
4:44 p.m.: When Alex Smith and Trent Dilfer were struggling, and before Shaun Hill became Shaun Hill, I thought the 49ers might be tempted to go after free-agent QB Billy Volek. Today, he re-upped with the Chargers.
4:59 p.m.: Just received word that Isaac Bruce has not agreed to terms with the 49ers, but the sides are pretty darn close. They're trying to find a dollar amount on a two-year deal that works for both sides. The deal is expected to be agreed upon tonight or tomorrow.
5:06 p.m.: Little-known fact about Isaac Bruce: He ranks No. 3 all time in NFL receiving yards behind Jerry Rice and Tim Brown.
5:09 p.m.: An hour-and-a-half ago, I was on with the Razor and Mr. T. Click here and then scroll down to hear our little chat.
5:12 p.m.: So, right now, the only free agents I'm aware of the 49ers pursuing are Justin Smith and Isaac Bruce. I'd be a little surprised if they're still involved in the Alan Faneca race. Smith left the building without a contract and appears to be on his way to Minnesota. Bruce is very close to a deal with the 49ers -- just a few dollars apart on an expected two-year deal.
5:44 p.m.: My apologies for not answering any questions over the past two days. I've been a little busy. I think I've covered most of the questions somewhere here during the minute-by-minute recap.
5:46 p.m.: I might have jumped the gun last night when I reported O'Sullivan agreed to a deal. Later, I was told that although O'Sullivan's joining the 49ers has been a safe bet for more than a month (since Martz was hired), he did not officially agree to terms until today. The same goes for the report of Bruce's signing. There is little doubt Bruce will sign with the 49ers, but it is a tiny bit premature at this point. They're still a few dollars apart. It certainly won't be a deal-breaker.
5:56 p.m.: Finally, a little news: Justin Smith is still in the Bay Area. He took a helicopter tour of the South Bay this afternoon with Mike Nolan. He will have dinner tonight with Nolan and, perhaps, a few coaches. I just spoke with Smith's agent, Jim Steiner, who confirmed the helicopter ride and dinner tonight. He said he was not sure who would be joining Smith and Nolan for dinner. Steiner said Smith is still "scheduled" to go to Minnesota tomorrow. But it's pretty clear the 49ers are going to pull out all the stops to sign Smith before he has a chance to leave the Bay Area.
6:19 p.m.: The NFL Network report has now been confirmed. Isaac Bruce agrees to a two-year, $6 million deal.
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Free Agent Friday - As Of 9 AM (PST)

Two confirmations on DE Justin Smith, Bengals

According to ESPN's John Clayton, free agent defensive end Justin Smith has informed the 49ers he will make San Francisco his first stop. He is scheduled to meet with the 49ers at their Santa Clara facility on Friday.

Matt Maiocco of the Press Democrat is reporting having received additional confirmation early this morning that Bengals DE Justin Smith will be visiting the 49ers.
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Free Agent Friday - As Of 8 Am PST

Several web sites are reporting the 49ers have agreed to a 2-year deal for Vikings linebacker Dontarrious Thomas and a 1-year deal for Lions quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan. A insider with the Rams said that if Isaac Bruce was ever cut, it would take about five seconds for 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz to pick him up. Bruce was released by St. Louis Thursday.

Bengals defensive end Justin Smith will visit the 49ers today. He also plans on visiting the Vikings. The signing of O'Sullivan would seem to mean that Trent Dilfer won't return. Dilfer said he won't make a decision on retiring until mid-March. While the 49ers are saying that deals for Thomas and O'Sullivan are premature, Thomas was already on the 49ers according to wikipedia! A terrific special teams player, Thomas has never been a starter, but has been productive when he was an injury replacement, including an eight-tackle performance and the only sack of his career against the 49ers and Alex Smith in 2006. At 241 pounds, scout.com believes the four-year veteran is well suited for the ted linebacker. Thomas will have to beat out Brandon Moore.
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Overnight News - Free Agent Signings - As of 1am (PST)

According to Matt Maiocco of the Press Democrat, there is word that the 49ers have agreed to terms with QB J.T. O'Sullivan (Lions), LB Dontarrious Thomas (Vikings) and RB DeShaun Foster (cut by the Panthers). Terms of their deals are not yet known. Interest in O'Sullivan and Thomas was first reported earlier today by Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.O'Sullivan, originally drafted by the Saints, has also been on the Packers, Vikings, Patriots and Panthers. He spent last season with the Lions, Mike Martz's old team. Last season, he completed 13 of 26 attempts for 148 yards, one touchdown and 2 interceptions. Thomas has spent four seasons with the Vikings. He has 143 tackles and 1.5 sacks during those four seasons.Last season, Foster had 247 carries for 876 yards and 3 touchdowns with Carolina.

****
Signed
RB DeShaun Foster (cut by the Panthers - 2-yr / $1.8 mil)
QB J.T. O'Sullivan (Lions - 1-yr / NFL min w/ $40,000 signing bonus)
LB Dontarrious Thomas (Vikings - 2-yr)
CB Allen Rossum (Steelers - 1-yr, $870,000)

Foster will help shoulder the load behind running back Frank Gore. O'Sullivan will serve as the 49ers' third quarterback as Alex Smith and Shaun Hill compete for the starting job. Thomas is an interesting signing. Some believe that he will replace Derek Smith, who was released by the team, while others believe that he was signed for depth. Rossum will serve as the team's kick-returner.

Confirmed Interest
DE Justin Smith (Bengals - visiting 49ers on Friday)
WR Isaac Bruce (cut by the Rams)
DE Marques Douglas (49ers)

It has been reported that Smith will visit both the 49ers and Vikings on Friday. It is not yet known which team he will visit first, although I get the impression from Maiocco's blog that he may start in Santa Clara. Wherever he visits first, it is unlikely that team will want him to leave without a contract. After being unable to come to an agreement on a new contract in St. Louis, Bruce was cut by the Rams. 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz is very familiar with Bruce and likely influenced the decision to go after him. Bruce is 35 years old. The 49ers are interested in bringing back Douglas, but are willing to risk letting him test free agency.

Rumored Interest
G Alan Faneca (Steelers)
LB Lance Briggs (Bears)

The rumored interest in Faneca came up late Thursday night. Rumors have been back and forth regarding Briggs. The NFL is currently investigating rumors that the 49ers tampered with Briggs last offseason.

Out of the Running
WR Muhsin Muhammad (Bears - signed by Panthers)
WR Bernard Berrian (Bears)
LB Calvin Pace (Cardinals)

Internal Moves
QB Alex Smith (exercised a multimillion-dollar buyback clause)
RB Michael Robinson (3-yr contract extension)

Lost
T Kwame Harris (Raiders)
G Justin Smiley (Dolphins)
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First Hour - Free Agent Notes - Thursday Night

From Matt Maiocco , The Press Democrat

Smiley agrees to five-year deal with Dolphins

The free-agent signing period has barely started and the 49ers have already lost a player. Guard Justin Smiley has agreed to terms with the Dolphins on a five-year, $25 million contract than includes a $9 million signing bonus, he said. He is scheduled to fly to Miami early Friday morning to sign the contract and make it official.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity," Smiley said on the phone just moments ago. "Miami called as soon as they were able to call me and told me they'd like to have me down there. They called me right after it (free agency) started. They offered me that (contract). I feel very blessed. It feels good to have security. I want to go down there and give them every penny's worth and play hard for them." Smiley said he is slated to play right guard for the Dolphins. Smiley resides in Ellabel, Ga., and attended Alabama.

"To me, it seems like a good fit, me being from the South," Smiley said. "There are a lot of other factors you have to weigh when you're considering a situation like this. I talked to them just a little while ago, and this is flattering that they came after me like this." Smiley was a second-round pick of the 49ers in 2004. He and the 49ers were far apart in contract talks, dating back the past two seasons. He said he has not yet spoken to the 49ers.

"It's a bummer because those guys mean a lot to me," Smiley said. "Being around those other offensive linemen and the organization, it made a positive impact in my life. The fans of San Francisco, they're faithful. I always hoped I could be a 49er, but it didn't work out." Smiley started all 32 games in 2005 and '06. He played most of the '06 season with a torn left labrum. He sustained a dislocated right shoulder in the eighth game last season and had season-ending surgery Nov. 13. He probably will not take part in any contact until training camp, as a precaution. Smiley will undoubtedly have to pass a physical with the Dolphins. He said that should be no problem, as his rehabilitation is ahead of schedule.

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There appears to be a front-runner in the race to get Bears WR Bernard Berrian, and it's not the 49ers. The Vikings have reportedly sent a jet to California to pick him up.

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Check Back Here For Hour By Hour News On Free Agent Movement As It Relates To The Niners.

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Free Agency Signing Period Begins

The New NFL Logo - To be unveiled on draft day

For NFL GM's, this week is Xmas Day Part I. (The Draft being Part II)!

Free Agency Officially Begins Today @ 9:01 PM (PST)

The next week, or so, and draft weekend will play the biggest parts in determining what the future will hold for the 49ers this year and moving forward. Let the fun begin!

Two On "D" Back In The Fold

From Matt Maiocco, The Press Democrat

Roderick Green re-signs with 49ers

The 49ers re-signed pass-rush specialist Roderick Green today, the club announced. Green, 25, was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. He saw action in seven games for the 49ers last season. Green recorded two sacks and just three tackles. The 49ers waived Green during training camp, citing his lack of versatility. He was signed to help the team's struggling pass rush on Nov. 5, when the club placed tackle Jonas Jennings on injured reserve.

Sopoaga never left . . . but he's back

The 49ers and nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga (right) reached an agreement today on a five-year contract extension, his agent Ken Zuckerman said. Sopoaga was scheduled to hit the open market Thursday night as an unrestricted free agent. But the 49ers did a pre-emptive strike by reaching the agreement. "Paraag (Marathe) and I have been going at this for a while," Zuckerman said of the 49ers' chief negotiator. "We have a foundation laid. We talked a lot. They wanted him. He wanted to stay. Really, the only thing was getting to the right number." Zuckerman declined to release the contract numbers. We speculated in this space last week that Sopoaga would be looking at a deal similar to what Jay Ratliff signed with the Cowboys. That deal was five years, $20.5 million with $8 million to sign.

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49ers Sign Veteran Return Specialist Rossum

The 49ers signed cornerback Allen Rossum Sunday, according to the NFL Network's Adam Schefter. He was released by the Steelers on February 22nd and, since he is a vested veteran, was able immediately sign with any team. The terms of the contract are unknown at this time.While Rossum is listed as a cornerback, he is also a return specialist capable of fielding both punts and kickoffs. You may remember Rossum from last season's week three game against the Steelers when Rossum returned a kickoff for a touchdown.He played in only 4 games last season as a result of a hamstring injury. Rossum is entering his 10th NFL season. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 1998 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He played for the Atlanta Falcons from 2002 to 2006 becoming their all time leader in kick off and punt return yardage.
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How To Spend John York's Money

The 49ers have a little less than $30 million in salary-cap room, which means they have probably budgeted no more than $20 million in 2008 cap space for free-agent signings. They still have to sign their draft class, and teams typically like to have at least a $5 million cushion heading into the season to account for players who go on injured reserve and other emergencies, as well as the possibility of offering contract extensions. They can get a lot done with $20 million when the signing period begins Thursday at 9:01 p.m. (PT), but as Mike Nolan and Scot McCloughan said they aren't just going to spend the Yorks' money just to spend it. The team can definitely sign at least one big-ticket guy, and they can structure a contract in a way that won't kill them for the future. They did that last year with Nate Clements. The Niners had plenty of cap room, so they gave him a $10 million roster bonus, which counts immediately against the cap. Therefore, Clements had a $11.1 million cap figure in his first season. The next three years, he will count $5.55 million (2008), $5.68 ('09) and $8.17 million ('10) against the cap. The 49ers can get out of that deal prior to the 2011 season and they'll be just fine, as far as the cap goes. The 49ers will also have the ability to make a run at several so-called Second Tier free agents - such as lesser-known players at guard and inside linebacker spots.

Lance Briggs doesn't fit with the 49ers. He may be an elite linebacker and a sexy free agent on the horizon, but signing him both would not address the positions of need, and add unnecessary depth at an already deep position. Having said that, that doesn't mean Nolan won't push to sign him, being a one track defensive minded coach. Games in the NFL are won on the outside. If teams are going to spend money on defense, spend it on cornerbacks and pass-rushers. If there's a need on the interior of the line, feel free to spend it there, too. But don't spend huge money on a linebacker who does not rush the passer when you already have an outstanding young player who runs around the field and makes tackles. Why sign somebody who does the same thing as Patrick Willis but who'll make at least twice as much money? I don't think the position is so important that you need to invest so much money for two players at that spot. Would the linebacker crew of Willis, Briggs, Manny Lawson (above) and anybody else be a among the league's elite units? Heck, yes. But nobody in that group can be counted upon to scare an opposing offense in pass-rush situations. Briggs has 5.5 sacks in five seasons.

Briggs is really good at playing downhill and attacking the line of scrimmage. But you want to know something? The 49ers' run defense was pretty darn good last season. Run defense is the least of the 49ers' concerns. The 49ers ranked No. 22 in the league in rushing yards allowed per game. But that was only because the team was so bad and the opposition always had a lead in the second half, so they stayed with the run. Only the Dolphins and Jets had more rush attempts against them. If you look at average yards per rush attempt, the 49ers were fifth-best in the league, yielding just 3.8 yards per carry. Getting a space-eater defensive tackle would be the top priority on defense, and there are some premier Warren Sapp/Kris Jenkins/even Bryant Young type DT's in this draft. Such as Glen Dorsey, (left from the LSU Tigers). Unfortunately, they will be off the board by the 29th pick.

D-Line The Focus Now With Hill Signed

The Niners recently agreed to a three-year contract with former third-string quarterback Shaun Hill, who won consecutive starts last season after the ineffectual duo of Alex Smith and Trent Dilfer succumbed to injuries. The contract is believed to be worth $6 million, with incentives that could boost its value to $11.5 million -- hardly a blockbuster deal, but one that clearly signals the end of Smith's tenure as San Francisco's undisputed starter. But while some dare to envision a future blissfully divorced from the most visible cog in an offense that ranked last in the league in an assortment of critical categories last season, the team must now address the futures of its remaining free agents, starting with defensive linemen Marques Douglas and Isaac Sopoaga.

With the Tennessee Titans having slapped the franchise tag on Albert Haynesworth and the Niners eager to plug the hole created by the retirement of four-time Pro Bowler and 14-year mainstay Bryant Young, (above), the presence of veterans like Douglas and Sopoaga could help stabilize the line play on a team in need of an extreme makeover on both sides of the ball. But at what cost?

Douglas, (left) who has ranked among the league's most consistent tackle contributors during his three-year tenure with the 49ers, recorded 71 takedowns last season -- 55 solo -- to complement his three sacks. And though Mike Nolan is reportedly delighted with the ninth-year pro's work ethic, questions linger about his long-term future with a rebuilding franchise. Douglas, who will turn 31 next month, has made no secret of his desire to stay with the club, calling San Francisco "a home away from home." But the North Carolina native, whose sack totals could never be confused with those of an elite lineman, just finished a three-year, $4.5 million deal, and will likely be seeking a substantial raise. Will he be worth the money on a team still clawing its way toward respectability?

The Niners face another difficult decision with Sopoaga, 26, a part-time nose tackle blessed with uncommon strength and potential who has yet to assert himself as a front-line starter. In four years with the team -- the first of which was cut short by a season-ending back injury suffered in training camp -- his production has remained maddeningly inconsistent, but a new, more lucrative deal would seem to guarantee him an expanded role on San Francisco's defensive line. Should newly appointed general manager Scot McCloughan gamble on talent that is not yet fully developed, or should he be prepared to watch Sopoaga sign for big money elsewhere?

The 49ers would prefer to bring back both linemen, and are reportedly negotiating with them in good faith. Just don't expect both to return, even as they pledge their allegiance to Niner Nation. With premium free agents like Haynesworth disappearing from the market, Sopoaga's price tag is surely rising while Douglas becomes increasingly attractive to contenders in need of dependable leadership on their D-lines. If McCloughan has serious doubts about either's ability to contribute to the Niners in the not-too-distant future, when the rebuilding process presumably begins to yield dividends, he should resist the urge to overspend and let them walk.

Veteran LB Smith Released

Derek Smith, the 49ers most prolific tackler since signing a free-agent contract in 2001 from the Washington Redskins, was released Tuesday.

The team sent out an e-mail of the news at 11:00 a.m. and it contained a quote from head coach Mike Nolan. "Decisions like this are a difficult part of a great business. Derek has been an important member of the 49ers, and you don not make these kinds of decisions without battling the emotion that is natural when you are dealing with a player that has done so much for your organization. We made the decision because we have quality linebackers who we think are the future of the 49ers. Derek was a model professional during his seven seasons with the 49ers, and he influenced a lot of the younger players with his work ethic.

Smith was due to make $3.45 million in salary next season.Smith's agent, Frank Bauer, met with team general manager Scot McCloughan during the Senior Bowl last month to discuss options. The team never discussed a reduction with Smith. In his seven years with the team, Smith was durable and consistent, leading the team in tackles for five straight seasons. In 2005, he experienced his best season with a team-record 163 tackles according to 49ers coach's review.

The league, which handles official tackle statistics, put his tally at 116. Nevertheless, Smith clearly shined in a season where the 49ers won only four games and he was the co-recipient, along with kicker Joe Nedney, of the Bill Walsh award, which is given to the team MVP as determined by the coaching staff. Smith might be still on the team if he hadn't strained an eye muscle in 2006, which limited his effectiveness. He had to change his stance in order to alleviate the double-vision he experienced when he looked down. In typical Derek Smith fashion, he never told anyone about the injury until coaches went to him to ask him if something was wrong. He underwent corrective surgery last season, but didn't return to his 2005 self. By mid-season, Jeff Ulbrich replaced Smith in the team's nickel package. Knowing Smith, he probably looked upon his release as an opportunity for a new experience and a chance to sign with a potential Super Bowl-winning team.

While he never sought media attention, Smith was always honest and never shrank from the press when things went sour. In a rare moment in 2005, before the 49ers played Philadelphia and wide receiver Terrell Owens, Smith was outspoken about his former teammate, saying Owens wasn't an ideal teammate and needed to practice with his injury (a pulled groin). After the 42-3 loss in which Owens caught 5 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns, Smith was the last player to leave the locker room and answered every question. He did say that Owens had a big day a was a great player.

Smith also wore his hair long that season in tribute to his friend and former Arizona State teammate Pat Tillman, an army ranger who was killed in Afghanistan that year.

Return Men Change -- Williams Cut, Lewis Signed By 49ers

Matthew Barrows - Sac Bee Staff Writer

The 49ers on Tuesday parted with punt returner Brandon Williams and welcomed Michael Lewis, the New Orleans Saints' career return leader in punts and kickoffs. Lewis, 35, is familiar to 49ers special-teams coach Al Everest, who coached the Saints' special teams from 2000 to 2005. During Everest's first year in New Orleans, the Saints signed Lewis, a former beer delivery man and Arena Football League player, to the practice squad. The Saints cut Lewis, a New Orleans native, in June.

"Michael Lewis is an exceptional returner who has experience and has been to a Pro Bowl," Everest said in a statement. "We are picking up a player who has been there and knows what it is supposed to look like." Williams (above) fumbled a punt Sept. 16 at St. Louis and had not shown the kind of burst on returns the 49ers had wanted. It is not known whether Lewis (left, Pro Bowl) will handle both punt and kick returns. The 49ers also signed linebacker Tyson Smith, who played in three games last year for the New York Giants, to the practice squad.

Niners Say They're Not Shopping Harris Around

Nolan said the 49ers are not actively trying to trade offensive tackle Kwame Harris, who lost his starting job to rookie Joe Staley. Harris is in the final year of his contract. He expects the 49ers to trade him. Harris lost his starting job after the third preseason game to Joe Staley, the Niners' first-round pick. San Francisco then deactivated Harris for Monday night's victory over Arizona, ending his streak of 37 consecutive starts.

Harris understood the decision, since coach Mike Nolan prefers to dress backups who can play more than one position. Harris isn't ready to be the backup left tackle after just recently starting to take snaps at his former position, but he felt strange standing on the sideline while his teammates gritted out a 20-17 win over the Cardinals. Though he hasn't formally requested a trade, he knows the 49ers are taking calls about his availability. He also knows that sitting on the Niners' bench this season will be poison to his hopes of landing a significant free-agent contract for 2008.

Harris and his agent keep an eye on injuries around the league these days, even while Harris adjusts to his new role. Their interest was piqued when Washington lost starting right tackle Jon Jansen for the season, and St. Louis lost Orlando Pace in week 1, but neither the Rams or the Redskins apparently have made a play for Harris. Though he became a favorite target of fans' ire for his penalty-prone play and an occasional embarrassment in pass protection, his coaches pointed out Harris' outstanding run-blocking as one reason for running back Frank Gore's franchise-record 1,695 yards last season.

Deactivated Tackle Harris Bracing For Possible Trade

By Matthew Barrows - Sacramento Bee Staff Writer

Tackle Kwame Harris said Wednesday he is mentally preparing for playing in a different city. The question is how soon that will occur.

While Harris was on the sideline Monday -- he was one of eight players the 49ers deactivated -- two other teams, the Washington Redskins and St. Louis Rams, learned they would be without their own starting tackles for the rest of the season. Washington right tackle Jon Jansen dislocated his ankle when a Miami defender crashed into him from behind. Meanwhile, Rams perennial Pro Bowl player Orlando Pace is out with a shoulder injury.

San Francisco personnel chief Scot McCloughan said Wednesday no team officially has contacted the 49ers about trading for Harris. But the suspicion is that will change. "It's really going to be up to the 49ers and how they value Kwame and what they're offered," said Harris' agent, Ryan Tollner. Harris, who becomes a free agent in March, lost his starting job to first-round draft pick Joe Staley in the final week of the exhibition season. Tollner, however, noted that Harris had his best training camp since being drafted 26th overall in 2003. "He's a 25-year-old with 44 starts," Tollner said. "He's still improving. I think that Kwame's best football is still ahead of him."
Harris said his value as a free agent certainly would rise if he played this season. Still, after three years at Stanford and four more with the 49ers, he's not sure he wants to leave.

- My only hope is that after a first round pick was invested in him, that they get back at least a 3rd round pick or some further help at wide-out in return, but make it worth while.-

Practice Squad - 8 Is Enough

The Niners created their practice squad Sunday. Eight players were signed, all of whom spent the offseason with the team, and seven were released just the day before. As expected, Thomas Clayton, (right) the rookie running back out of Kansas State heads the list. Clayton was the 49ers' final draft pick in April. He started slowly in training camp, and coach Mike Nolan said he couldn't justify keeping four tailbacks on the roster. Still, Clayton improved under the tough-love style of position coach Bishop Harris and looked good in the 49ers' exhibition finale in San Diego. He rushed for more yards than any other player in the league this preseason.

Another player who showed potential for improvement was Damane Duckett, a defensive lineman who converted to offensive tackle in the spring. The 6-foot-6 Duckett had a shaky beginning but seemed to have picked up the position by the end of training camp. Duckett and Harvey Dahl made the practice squad as offensive tackles.

Mark Washington also might have been miscast last season as a defensive lineman at Texas State. The 6-3, 250-pound Washington entered the supplemental draft but was not picked up. He converted to linebacker with the 49ers, and the team decided he was worth developing at either inside or outside linebacker.

The 49ers have only one fullback, Moran Norris, on the active roster but will keep his backup, Zak Keasey, on the practice squad. Nolan had said he might look outside the organization for a practice-squad receiver but instead settled on Dominique Zeigler, a rookie out of Baylor. Wide receiver Marcus Maxwell, who was surprisingly released last week, after a great offseason in NFL Europa, has visited the Cleveland Browns but has yet to be signed. The other practice-squad players are tight end Zac Herold and safety Darnell Bing, (left, with ball at USC) a fourth-round draft choice by the Raiders in 2006, acquired by the team just at the start of preseason.

Roster Down To 53 Saturday, Moore, Cohen Done For The Year

The 49ers made their final cuts on Saturday, waiving 13 players and placing two on injured reserve to get down to the 53-man roster.

The 49ers waived eight veterans, two first-year players and three rookies. A couple of these cuts were a bit surprising. WR Bryan Gilmore (right), was cut after having a very good camp and preseason by all accounts. Certainly he was better than Ashley Lelie or Brandon Williams, who both kept spots. The other head scratcher was rookie RB Thomas Clayton, who led the team in preseason rushing and showed good skills when called upon. Once again, two veterans, Maurice Hicks and Michael Robinson, neither of whom has done much so far, were kept ahead of Thomas. The 49ers waived veterans S Darnell Bing, LB Colby Bockwoldt, T Harvey Dahl, T Damane Duckett, TE Zachery Hilton, DE Sam Rayburn and S Vickiel Vaughn, first-year players FB Zak Keasey and T Tavares Washington and rookies TE Zack Herold and LB Mark Washington. The 49ers can begin signing players to their eight-man practice squad on Sunday.

Two rookies that were injured in the preseason-finale against San Diego were placed on injured reserve. Fourth-round picks LB Jay Moore and DE Joe Cohen suffered season-ending injuries in the loss to the Chargers. Moore injured his ankle, and Cohen suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee.