49ers 2017 NFL Free Agency Day 1 Recap

The legal tampering period was approached with a ferocity by the San Francisco 49ers front office, an intensity that has been absent in years’ past. Let’s recap those free agents added to the roster.

Even before the official beginning of NFL free agency, which kicked off March 9, San Francisco was busy adding to a talent-depleted roster.

The two-day legal tampering period begins on March 7 at noon ET and marks when teams are allowed to verbally negotiate with players who are set to become unrestricted free agents.

Unlike previous seasons, this new regime is not complacent in the free-agency market.

March 8 saw the 49ers add four players to their roster: wide receiver Pierre Garçon, quarterback Brian Hoyer, wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and fullback Kyle Juszczyk.

That was all done before free agency had officially begun.

Free agency is now underway and, so far, tight end Logan Paulsen, kicker Robbie Gould and linebacker Malcolm Smith, wide receiver Aldrick Robinson and quarterback Matt Barkley are the additional signings made.

Niner Noise recaps the first official day of action and hands out grades and further analysis.

WR Pierre Garçon

Contract: 5 years, $47,500,000; $20 million guaranteed

Grade: B+

The contractual numbers have been released for wide receiver Pierre Garçon’s deal, as reported by The Washington Post‘s Master Tesfatsion. The whole deal broken down:

• A $12 million signing bonus and base salary of $3,675,000 in 2017.
• Garçon can make up to $16,000,250 in the first season (exclusively in terms of base salary, that would put him as the highest paid receiver in the NFL); a total of $23 million can be made in the first two seasons.
• Final three years are club options.

Adding the total guaranteed money in this upcoming season for Garçon, which stands at a total of $15,675,000, and the 30-year-old receiver’s contract ranks as the highest in the NFL compared to other base salaries, per Spotrac. That might baffle some people that someone who has never been selected to a Pro Bowl received that kind of money.

The contract is set up financially beneficial to the 49ers, as it’s front loaded and the team-options at the latter part of the deal work in San Francisco’s benefit.

This is how Garçon stacks up against the other top paid wide receivers in the league, according to Pro Football Reference:

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/9/2017.

Granted, Garçon has played less games than all of the guys on the list, but the point remains that the wide receiver has remained productive over his NFL career.

Most importantly, Garçon had the best season of his career with Kyle Shanahan at the the helm of the offense. Back in 2012, he recorded a league-leading 113 catches for 1,346 yards and 7 TD’s. And just this past season, Garçon posted a 79/1,041/3 stat line with DeSean Jackson opposite of him.

San Francisco gets a veteran wide receiver who has already proven himself, a player who’s familiar with Shanahan and what he wants from the receiver position and someone who still has the speed needed in Shanahan’s offense –check this play from last season (via the Niners Wire’s Rob Lowder):

QB Brian Hoyer

Contract: 2 years, $12 million; $10 million guaranteed

Grade: B-

No, Brian Hoyer is not the franchise-caliber quarterback one needs to contend for a championship. Nor he is the long-term solution to the 49ers woes under center, and that’s been presented to Hoyer by the front office, according to general manager John Lynch.

But he’s a perfectly suitable stopgap quarterback. He’s worked with Shanahan before, so familiarity is there.

Hoyer’s statistics during his time with Shanahan, gathered from Pro Football Reference: 55.5 percent passing for 3,326 yards and 12 TD’s in 13 games played. Most notably, he went 7-6 as a starter under Shanahan with the Cleveland Browns.

And at a price of $12 million, there’s no serious financial risk. The 49ers don’t strap themselves of cash in the future, they actually have a quarterback on the roster, Hoyer provides depth/insurance if they decide to go out and acquire Kirk Cousins (or another quarterback) and adds potential mentorship if San Francisco drafts a rookie quarterback in this year’s draft.

WR Marquise Goodwin

Contract: 2 years, $8 million

Grade: B

One point of emphasis Lynch made in a February radio interview, as noted by KNBR’s Kevin Jones, was the fact that the 49ers wanted to base their new offense around speed. And that point was made in full with the signing of Marquise Goodwin.

The former Buffalo Bills wide receiver is a flat-out speedster; Goodwin’s 4.27 40-yard dash is the fourth fastest time in NFL Scouting Combine history.

And let’s not forget Goodwin’s supreme athletic capabilities –at 21 years old, Goodwin was an Olympian in the long jump at the 2012 London Olympics.

Here’s Goodwin flashing off his wheels (via ChatBills):

That top-end speed is exactly what Shanahan desires, and combined with Garçon, the back end of opposing secondaries will be tested this upcoming season.

FB Kyle Juszczyk

Contract: 4 years, $21,500,000 million; $10,500,000 guaranteed

Grade: A

This is one of the signings that turned most heads, as fullback Kyle Juszczyk’s average annual salary of $5,250,000 is set to be the highest in the league –by a healthy $2,750,000, per Spotrac.

The guaranteed money is also the highest as well, by another substantial margin (Buffalo Bills fullback Patrick DiMarco is second at $4,000,000 guaranteed).

More from SF 49ers Free Agency

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• 49ers bolster wide receiver room by grabbing Chris Conley
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• 49ers aren’t talking to this free agent (but they should)

So, why all the money for unglorified position like fullback?

First, San Francisco can easily afford to overpay (and they are going to have to lure free agents) without seriously burdening themselves financially. The nearly $100 million the 49ers were working with in cap space this offseason allows for Juszczyk’s contract to hit the books without a serious dent.

Second, Juszczyk was by far and away the best fullback on the open market. Juszczyk’s stellar 2016 campaign was noted this offseason, with the fullback earning a 87.9 grade from Pro Football Focus and being selected to the 2017 NFL Pro Bowl. Here’s a clip of what he brings to the table (from TNW’s Rob Lowder):

Third, known as a “Swiss-Army Knife” type of player, Juszczyk can play a variety of positions (h/t Pro Football Focus’ Jeff Deeney):

That versatility –the ability to play fullback, tight end, halfback or wide receiver– is going to be an integral in Shanahan’s newly instilled offense. Here’s an example of Shanahan used fullback Patrick DiMarco in Atlanta:

Shanahan utilizes the fullback in his offense and Juzsczyk’s versatlity will be utilized to the maximum potential. Oh, and he plays special teams too.

The 49ers will definitely be getting their money’s worth.

Malcolm Smith

Contract: 5 years, $26,500,000; $13 million guaranteed

Grade: B

One of the more lucrative signings made by the 49ers, the 27-year-old linebacker is set join NaVorro Bowman in the 49ers’ inside linebacking corps. And that’s probably mainly why he was brought in, as “Bowman Insurance.”

It may seem costly, but it’s ultimately worth it considering Smith is a starter-level worthy player.

He clearly won’t get the starting nod over Bowman, but the recent injuries to No. 53 have forced the 49ers to think ahead in case of another injury. Once a Super Bowl MVP, Smith is a sufficient choice to fill that slot behind Bowman.

In his two seasons as an Oakland Raider, Smith racked up 226 total tackles (186 solo, 40 assisted) and 4 sacks. He was 16th this past season in tackles, ranking ahead of notable names like Bobby Wagner, Jamie Collins and Vontaze Burfict, per Pro Football Reference.

And averaging at $4,300,000 million per season, cap space won’t be eaten away for the duration of the deal.

TE Logan Paulsen

Contract: 1 year, financial terms not disclosed yet

Grade: B-

A bland signing, this deal financially will most likely end up being team-friendly and not carry any serious cap room consequences. It’s a reported one-year deal and considering the caliber of tight end Logan Paulsen, the number won’t be astronomical.

Paulsen isn’t the type of playmaking tight end that is being more and more coveted in today’s game; that’s undeniable. And with the recent signing of fellow tight end Vance McDonald back in December 2016, Paulsen isn’t going to be expected to fulfill catching duties.

He’ll be doing the work in trenches. Known as one of the better run-blocking tight ends, Paulsen will be doing exactly that. It’s an unheralded job, but nonetheless plays a factor in a team’s ability to run the ball. Here’s some of that blocking ability on display (h/t NFL Journeymen’s Will Montgomery):

Familiarity is there as well, as Paulsen played with Shanahan in Washington. He’ll know what is expected of him.

K Robbie Gould

Contract: 2 years, financial terms not disclosed yet

Grade: B

With Phil Dawson joining the Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers were absent a kicker on the roster. There was a void to fill and they did it immediately by signing veteran kicker Robbie Gould.

Not the most flashy signing, it was necessary. And Gould is one of the better kickers that was available.

Per Pro Football Reference, Gould was perfect from field goals during his lone season with the New York Giants in 2016 (10 games played, 10-10 FG’s). In his previous full season in 2015, Gould posted an 84.6 percent field goal rate.

For his career, he has an overall field goal rate of 84.5 percent. Twice, in 2008 and 2013, he posted a field goal rate of 89.7 percent. His career long is is 58 yards and carries a 98.3 percent extra point rate for his career.

WR Aldrick Robinson

Contract: 2 years, reportedly up to $6 million

Grade: B

It’s clear Shanahan is looking to bring in players that fit his system. The wide receiver position was a wasteland for the 49ers in 2016 (ranking 32nd in pass offense) and this was something I’ve harped on in the past. A sorry state San Francisco’s wide receiver corps was in.

Now with Pierre Garçon, Marquise Goodwin, Jeremy Kerley and Aldrick Robinson, there will be legitimate competition at the position. And it’s set to be a speedy, speedy wide receiver unity.

Robinson has run 4.43 in the 40-yard dash and was once a high school track star (10.49 100-meter time). Here’s some of that speed being put to use (via uStadium):

Speed has obviously been one the forefront of San Francisco front office’s mind as they pick up players, and the commitment to stick to a consistent type of player is a key function as teams attempt to construct an identity during a rebuild. This signing falls in line with the new 49ers.

QB Matt Barkley

Contract: No details given yet, reported on by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport

Grade: C+

There’s no way of sugarcoating this, Matt Barkley has not been a good NFL quarterback. In his first extended run of play last season, Barkley threw for 1,611 yards, eight TDs and 13 INTs in seven games total.

A quarterback rating of 68.3, Barkley simply wasn’t an efficient passer during his time as the starter.

That comes with a caveat though; the 2016 Chicago Bears were in dysfunction and Barkley came in at midseason. Additionally, when breaking down game samples from last season, Barkley did have a few instances of above-average play (three games with 300-plus passing yards).

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And this signing isn’t supposed to be the end-all for the 49ers at quarterback. Barkley is merely quarterback insurance behind Hoyer (or double-insurance in the case San Francisco lands Kirk Cousins).

Considering the 49ers literally had zero quarterbacks on their roster some 72 hours ago, the depth is welcomed at the position. There also remains the possibility of Barkley providing some extra mentoring, alongside Hoyer, if the 49ers draft a quarterback. That potential grooming could prove to be hugely beneficial in the long-run.

Next: 49ers: Why Dont'a Hightower is the 49ers' No. 1 Free Agent Priority

As it stands, San Francisco currently has $88,236,014 in cap space, per Over The Cap. That will change with the additional signings made, but it remains that the 49ers will still have some of the most cap space in the league once the rest of the deals are finalized.

A good sign of aggressiveness being met with thoughtfulness.