Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback Colt McCoy was traded to San Francisco on April 1, 2013 from the Cleveland Browns.

Trade Details: 49ers received Colt McCoy and Browns 2013 6th-round draft pick. Browns received 49ers 5th- and 7th-round picks in 2013. 

Three-year Stats In Cleveland: 58.3 completion percentage, 21 touchdown passes, 20 interceptions, and a 74.8 QB rating.

Grade: C+

The move all 49er fans were expecting was made on April 1 with the team trading for a backup quarterback in Colt McCoy. The former Browns quarterback will compete with last season’s No. 3 QB Scott Tolzien who has been with the 49ers since 2011.

There were plenty of veteran options for the 49ers at quarterback whether through trade or free agency when the 2013 season started on March 12. McCoy has been in the NFL for only three seasons, so it would be a stretch to call him a veteran. Although, he does have 21 career starts at quarterback, which is 14 more than Tolzien (zero) and Colin Kaepernick (seven) combined. However, I believe the 49ers could have added a true veteran who also has playoff experience like Matt Cassel or Matt Hassellbeck before they were signed by other teams. Either of those players would have been a better fit for the 49ers than McCoy.

Despite McCoy’s none playoff experience and a 6-15 record as a starting QB, the trade gives Jim Harbaugh an insurance backup at QB just in case Kaepernick is injured or if Tolzien cannot win the No. 2 job at quarterback. Another plus is McCoy is young (26) and he is in the final year of his contract that will pay him $1.5 million this season. Which means McCoy is likely just a one-year fix as a backup for the 49ers at quarterback.

McCoy can be a dual threat quarterback and he has athleticism, although not on the same level as Kaepernick, so he could fit right in with Harbaugh’s offense. In his three seasons in the NFL he has rushed for 363 yards and averaged 3.9 yards a carry. But, the 49ers could have reached a deal to acquire a better option at quarterback which is why a C+ grade was awarded.

Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha signed on April 2, 2013 (1-year, $3 million)

Age: 31

HT: 6 ft 2 in WT: 210 Ib

Former Team: Philadelphia Eagles

2012 Stats: 55 tackles, 12 passes defensed, 1 INT

Grade: A-

The San Francisco 49ers found another bargain in free agency by signing Nnamdi Asomugha to a one-year contract. Yes, Asomugha was released by the Eagles because he was dreadful in his two seasons in Philly after he signed a huge contract. And there was no way the Eagles were going to continue paying him the remainder of his five-year, $60 million contract. So the team released him on the first day of the 2013 NFL season. However, even though Asomugha did not live up to his contract in Philly, this is a no-risk, high reward signing by the Niners.

He will earn $4 million from the Eagles this season in addition to the $1.35 million San Francisco will pay, if he makes it through the season. There is no guaranteed money, which he means he will have to earn his roster spot out of training camp. If he does make the team and performs well the contract he signed could be worth up to $3 million. So it’s not like Asomugha is not going to get paid.

The Asomugha signing is awarded an A- grade because he there is absolutely no-risk for the 49ers. If he struggles in training camp and does not make the roster, the team does not have to pay him any money and can release him. If he does make the roster, he will only make the defense better because the 49ers are not solely relying on him to be a starter. The 49ers can still go with Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown, Chris Culliver, Tramaine Brock and Perrish Cox if Asomugha fizzles out.

The irony here is the 49ers made a run at signing him two years ago after he became a free agent. Luckily the 49ers lost out on the Asomugha sweepstakes because of how he played in Philly. The cornerback will return back to the Bay Area where he played collegiately at Cal and spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Oakland Raiders. Hopefully a return back to the West Coast will get him playing like the top-shutdown cornerback he used to be.

How will the 49ers use Asomugha in the secondary? Niner Noise Editor Ryan Sakamoto said this in a post announcing the move:

When the 49ers lost FS Dashon Goldson to the Tampa Bay Bucs, it left a huge hole in the secondary. Asomugha showing some signs of wear and tear, should slide to free safety, as he would be a natural playmaker in the backend. First of all, Asomugha’s skill-set is tailored to a read and react style of play, evident by his man to man coverage with the Raiders. If Asomugha is allowed to roam and play center field, that will hide his weakness (speed) and turn his strength (ballhawking) into a great asset. Furthermore, it would help regain his Pro-Bowl form of year’s past, making this free-agent look like a bargain.

Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Wide Receiver Marlon Moore signed on March 19, 2013 (1-year, $630K)

Age:  25

HT: 6 ft 0 in WT: 190 lb

Former Team: Miami Dolphins

2012 Stats: 6 receptions, 116 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown (14 games)

Grade: C-

The 49ers already have a lot of depth at wide receiver, so the signing of Marlon Moore was to give the special teams a fast option at gunner. This is likely the only way Moore will make the final roster as the 49ers have five spots at wide receiver already taken up by Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham, Kyle Williams, A.J. Jenkins and newly acquired Anquan Boldin. Moore will also serve as insurance at receiver with Manningham and Williams coming back from knee injuries. He has only started two games since 2010.

One concern for Moore at wide receiver is he could not get into the rotation at receiver with the Dolphins despite their offense being depleted at the position. Moore is a native of Sacramento, CA and played collegiately at Fresno State.

Click HERE for links to other 49ers free agency grades.