The San Francisco 49ers' shocking exit from the playoffs at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks wasn't exactly the kind of way head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch wanted to go out.
But the reality is the Niners' campaign is now over, and the focus shifts from winning the following week to putting together the best roster possible next season.
Sneakily, San Francisco engineered several of those moves while the pain of the divisional-round loss was still fresh in the team's memory.
While none of the transactions will truly move the needle, the 49ers have found success with several fringe players added to the roster in such manner.
49ers sign 14 players to reserve/future contracts
Again, none of the Niners' first wave of transactions will involve household names. But, case in point, reserve lineman Austen Pleasants and tight end Jake Tonges both played crucial roles at various times last season after stemming from the seldom-discussed reserve/future contract designation.
The Wednesday after its playoff exit, San Francisco announced 14 players signed to reserve/future deals:
- OL Isaac Alarcon
- DL Evan Anderson
- CB Eli Apple
- WR Junior Bergen
- DL William Bradley-King
- DB Derrick Canteen
- LB Andrew Farmer II
- S Darrick Forrest
- LB Jalen Graham
- QB Adrian Martinez
- OL Drake Nugent
- OL Brandon Parker
- WR Malik Turner
- DL Sebastian Valdez
As noted on the team's website, each of the aforementioned players finished the year on the 49ers practice squad.
Several, including Anderson and Valdez, had some notable hype last August, while Martinez held the line as QB3 on the depth chart behind Brock Purdy and Mac Jones. When Purdy missed eight games with a turf-toe injury, Martinez ended up being named the primary backup to Jones.
Apple, a 2016 first-round draftee of the New York Giants, might be the only household name among the greater NFL fanbase.