NFL free agency update: 49ers to sign OL Weston Richburg, per report
By Peter Panacy
According to a report from ESPN, the San Francisco 49ers are expected to bring aboard offensive lineman Weston Richbug on a five-year deal to upgrade the Niners’ O-line.
The San Francisco 49ers were likely going to make some offseason moves to address their offensive line. And while the team missed out on a consensus top target in NFL free agency, soon-to-be Jacksonville Jaguars guard Andrew Norwell, going after former New York Giants offensive lineman Weston Richburg appears to be a nice fallback option.
News of the pending transaction, which will go official on the start of free agency on Mar. 14, was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Richburg, 26 years old, was a second-round pick of the Giants back in the 2014 NFL Draft. He immediately emerged as a starter, beginning at left guard and moving to center after his rookie year. Additionally, he missed only one game his first three seasons. Last year, though, a concussion limited him to just four.
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Pro Football Focus gave Richburg a 71.3 overall grade over those four games last season. But he’s only two years removed from an 86.5-grade effort, which is pretty substantial.
And considering he’s still young, the Niners making this investment appears smart.
San Francisco has some interior O-line question marks this offseason. Right guard Brandon Fusco remains unsigned, while there is a pending competition between fellow guards Laken Tomlinson and Joshua Garnett, who missed all of 2017 with a knee injury.
Richburg could bump out to guard, especially after the 49ers inked incumbent center Daniel Kilgore to a three-year deal. Kilgore’s injury history, though, is less of a concern with Richburg on the roster. And Richburg might force Kilgore out to guard too. That’s for training camp to determine.
Contract Details
Per Schefter, Richburg joins the Niners on a five-year deal:
Former Giants’ C-G Weston Richburg intends to sign a 5-year deal with the SF 49ers when free agency opens, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2018
The specifics of the contract are not yet known, although San Francisco still has over $67 million available in cap space, per Over the Cap, prior to Wednesday’s free agency opening.
National Reaction
Pumped for Weston Richburg to the @49ers. Excellent fit for Shanahan’s offense. Will excel in a scheme where it’s more than down blocks and inside zone. Can also be a field general for Jimmy G.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) March 13, 2018
Weston Richburg is Kyle Shanahan’s favorite thing for an O-lineman: agile. He weighs just 298 pounds. PFF graded him at 71.3 last year. He’s 26 years old https://t.co/GSUG46zgHf
— Kevin Jones (@Mr_KevinJones) March 13, 2018
Grade
As former KNBR 680 insider Kevin Jones pointed out, Richburg fits the outside-zone scheme head coach Kyle Shanahan operates. Richburg’s ability to move quickly from side to side on bootlegs and zone runs should help the Niners’ O-line considerably.
Considering he’s young, the five-year deal makes a lot of sense and alleviates the team’s needs to make other upgrades through the draft.
It might not have been as splashy a signing as Norwell, but Richburg provides an upgrade and should be 100 percent recovered after his season-ending concussion a year ago.
Next: 5 under-the-radar free agents 49ers can target
Grade: A