SF 49ers: 2021 re-sign ‘bubble watch’ for pending free agents
By Peter Panacy
SF 49ers Free-Agent ‘Strong Bubble’
Solomon Thomas, Ben Garland, Kerry Hyder, K’Waun Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon, Dontae Johnson, Nick Mullens (RFA), Taybor Pepper (RFA), Ross Dwelley (RFA), Marcell Harris (RFA)
Defensive line depth is going to be a need in 2021, and the Week 2 season-ending ACL tear to defensive end Solomon Thomas could actually mean he returns on the cheap after never quite panning out as a No. 3 overall draft pick. Still, the SF 49ers seem to like him, as they do cornerback Dontae Johnson.
Johnson and fellow corner Ahkello Witherspoon stay on the strong bubble because of the lack of experienced depth. Assuming cheap contracts are in line, both could potentially stay as depth pieces.
Backup quarterbacks get interesting, too. But because No. 2 signal-caller Nick Mullens is of the restricted free-agent variety, San Francisco would have a little more control over his retention.