2018 NFL free agency: Predicting which players the 49ers re-sign or let walk
By Peter Panacy
Tight End Logan Paulsen and Center Tim Barnes
The 49ers brought in veteran free-agent tight end Logan Paulsen shortly after the tandem of John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan took over in 2017. After all, Paulsen had familiarity with Shanahan’s offense from their days with the Washington Redskins.
Yet Paulsen ended up being something like the 53rd player on a 53-man roster — never safe and often winding up being cut to make room for someone else.
San Francisco released him on Oct. 17, signed him again two days later, only to release him once more on Oct. 24 before being re-signed again on Nov. 6.
This doesn’t bode well for Paulsen’s prospects in San Francisco, especially considering the emergence of 2017 rookie tight end George Kittle, paired with the sudden emergence of veteran tight end Garrett Celek.
And with undrafted 2017 rookie Cole Hikutini a consideration, Paulsen’s days of being a “mentor” for Shanahan’s offense have likely passed.
Center Tim Barnes was also in the same boat, minus the Shanahan prior experience. He didn’t make the initial 53-man roster but was brought back in late November to help account for some injuries along the offensive line.
That doesn’t mean he returns, though.
Prediction: The 49ers let both Logan Paulsen and Tim Barnes go this offseason.