The 49ers’ offseason is one of the most important in team history with their potential playoff hopes riding on their ability to tweak a still-rebuilding roster.
How their additions factor in on the field will be important, but the way the ripple effect of their offseason moves impacts the rest of the roster will be key as well. Some of the roster will get a positive boost from the free agency moves, while other players will be adversely impacted.
Here are the winners and losers for the 49ers so far this offseason:
Winner: Safeties
The 49ers’ decision to not spend big money in free agency is a good sign for the safeties already on the roster. San Francisco’s only moves at the position were re-signing Jimmie Ward and re-signing Antone Exum Jr. The lack of funds allocated to the position expresses at least a modicum of confidence in the players they’re bringing back. It’ll be a competition for the starting job, and an early draft pick could very well be in the mix by training camp, but for now the safeties from last season will have a shot to start in 2019.
Loser: Solomon Thomas
The addition of Ford creates more of a log jam on the defensive line, and that’ll only get worse if the 49ers draft another defensive end. Thomas is simply running out of positions to play with DeForest Buckner coming into his own last season and Arik Armstead returning on the fifth year of his rookie contract. Thomas isn’t out of options yet, but the Ford acquisition puts more writing on the wall that Thomas’ role is shrinking.
Winner: Mike Person
Person re-signed with the 49ers on a three-year extension, which should allow him to slot in as the starting right guard for the second consecutive season. He was very good last season after winning a starting job in camp. He started and played all 16 games despite suffering an injury Week 1. Person played well enough to garner another contract with San Francisco, and aside from Joshua Garnett, there won’t be a ton of competition for his starting spot.
Loser: Matt Breida
This is a little bit to-be-determined, but Breida on paper appears to be the odd man out in a crowded 49ers backfield. The undrafted rookie will be joined by the highly-paid Jerick McKinnon, newly-signed Tevin Coleman, and recently-extended special teams ace Raheem Mostert. Breida, an undrafted rookie in 2017, was sensational in his second season while battling an ankle injury for most of the season. Breida is a tremendous play maker who should get touches, but it’s difficult to see where they come from if San Francisco prioritizes touches for McKinnon and Coleman.
Winner: Cornerbacks
San Francisco expressed confidence in young cornerbacks by only signing oft-injured former Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett to a one-year deal. They wanted to add competition for a starting job, but they weren’t going to shell out big money for a surefire starter. Both third-year cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and second-year cornerback Tarvarius Moore will have the opportunity to snag a starting job after both had flashes of high-level play a season ago. They both had their struggles as well, but the lack of a high-priced free agent corner is a good sign for their standing on the roster.
Loser: Kendrick Bourne
Bourne had a very strong finish to last season, but it’s telling he only came on once injuries eliminated many of the receivers ahead of him on the depth chart. The third-year undrafted receiver finds himself behind Dante Pettis, Marquise Goodwin and free agent signee Jordan Matthews. Bourne before free agency looked like he’d be in line to compete for playing time, and he still might, but his job becomes more difficult with Matthews in the mix.
