49ers signing Jordan Reed shows how team is building the roster
The 49ers have a wish to go for upside after signing veteran tight end Jordan Reed.
With the San Francisco 49ers announcing the signing of tight end Jordan Reed, the team has finally got a talented (albeit fragile) player who can command respect at the tight end position alongside All-Pro George Kittle.
Reed had a lot of talent in his career, but injuries have sadly sapped him of what was a promising career. That being said, he would be a worthy reserve who would still command respect from defenses that would be focused on stifling the influence of Kittle.
It’s also one of two signs in the past week that the 49ers are going for some cheap deals for some former stars to come in for a season and play for a ring.
The other side comes from the other side of the ball, where EDGE Ezekiel Ansah has visited the 49ers for a physical pending him potentially joining the team as a rotational piece in the crown jewel that is the 49ers defensive line. San Francisco also brought aboard former Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders defensive end Dion Jordan, according to a Tuesday report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Like Reed, Ansah and Jordan are both past their primes. However, in Jordan’s case, he would come as a rotational piece who doesn’t have to shoulder the load at the position and can play limited snaps to remain fresh.
It would be a cheap, efficient deal and part of the contract wizardry we’ve been accustomed to seeing in the Paraag Marathe era.
This is the smart, logical thing for San Francisco. They’ve shown the roster is already Super Bowl ready, the salary cap is in an uncertain state in the COVID era but could be lowered, and the 49ers are in a tight salary cap situation as it is and need to find bargains in their rotational players.
For the 49ers, Reed, Jordan and potentially Ansah provide a potentially high reward for zero risk. If Reed catches a few touchdowns and Jordan gets a few sacks en route to a Super Bowl, that’s all they need to do.
Depth is the key to any Super Bowl roster, the 49ers have been very shrewd in bringing in key talents for visits and resisting the initial wave of free agency.
And most importantly, not blowing the salary cap is how you keep bringing your star players back into the fold.
Next. 49ers training camp: Updated bubble watch after opening cuts. dark
If a player that can improve the roster and be brought in for cheap is up for grabs, don’t be surprised if the 49ers pick them up too.
It’s clear for all to see, that San Francisco has designs to improve their depth in any way they can.