San Francisco 49ers: Grading DeForest Buckner trade, other moves in NFL free agency

Before any move was actually made, one could see why the 49ers might part ways with their starting right guard from 2019, Mike Person.

Person was going to cost San Francisco $2.5 million, which isn’t much. But when considering the fact he was owed zero in guaranteed money this season, it’s important to note player contracts and tenures get dicey when that winds up being the case.

For Person, who started all but two games at right guard for the Niners the last two seasons, it was.

Reserve offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill filled in for Person late in the year when the latter was dealing with a neck injury. By all accounts, Brunskill handled his own just fine and is a solid candidate to start at right guard this season.

Had that been the transaction alone, this move would have been a C-plus grade or slightly better. Yet the Niners elected to bring aboard former New York Jets guard Tom Compton, who’s only slightly younger than Person and, at least according to Pro Football Focus, marginally worse.

If it’s a mere trade-off, as the contractual terms aren’t yet known, the move is not exactly encouraging, especially considering Person was well-liked within the locker room.

And that’s where it stands now.