SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ The 49ers on Thursday made a couple moves to tinker with their offensive line, including the starting spot at right guard.
ESPN reported the team informed Mike Person, who started 30 games over the last two seasons, he would be released while the team agreed to terms on a one-year contract with veteran guard Tom Compton, a source confirmed to The Bee. Compton is a journeyman who will be playing on his sixth team, including Kyle Shanahan's Falcons in 2016.
San Francisco's offensive line was mostly solid last season, though Person, 31, was the weak point that was particularly glaring in the Super Bowl against Chiefs star defensive tackle Chris Jones and in a December loss against Grady Jarrett of the Falcons.
Person dealt with stingers throughout the 2019 season that led to missing two games late in the year. He was signed in 2018 to compete for a depth role but wound up winning the competition at right guard over a group of players that included former first-round draft pick Joshua Garnett.
The 49ers felt good enough with Person to give him a three-year, $9 million contract extension in May 2019. Compton made $1.6 million last season with the New York Jets.
Compton, meanwhile, has spent his career primarily as a backup with the exception of 2018 with the Vikings when he started 14 games. He opened last season as a reserve for New York before starting five games at guard in place of starter Brian Winters. Compton was placed on injured reserve late in the season with a calf injury.
Compton was a sixth-round draft pick of Washington in 2012, while Shanahan was there as the offensive coordinator under his father, Mike.
The moves signal the 49ers might not be done adding to the offensive line either through free agency or the upcoming draft. It also increases the odds Daniel Brunskill, who performed well as a backup tackle and guard while Person was injured in 2019, will have a shot to start. Ben Garland, who signed a one-year contract on Wednesday, could also be in that mix.
San Francisco on Monday made a huge splash by trading star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts for the No. 13 pick in next month's draft. This year's prospect class is rich in offensive tackles, which could mean the 49ers target an eventual replacement for veteran Joe Staley that could play guard until Staley retires. Staley is under contract for two more seasons.
