49ers roster 2024: Eric Saubert the forgotten commodity at tight end

If the 49ers envision a role for Eric Saubert in 2024, it's likely one that'll ultimately fall under the radar.

The San Francisco 49ers have an awfully fluid situation behind All-Pro George Kittle on the tight end depth chart.

In an ideal world, the Niners' two recent NFL Draft picks, Cameron Latu and Brayden Willis, would ascend into prominent roles, especially after the team lost two veterans, Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley, earlier in the offseason to free agency.

But Willis hasn't made much of a dent thus far aside from a modest impact on special teams, and the latest has Latu struggling in training camp again, not unlike what he experienced a year ago.

So, to help beef up the depth behind Kittle, San Francisco engineered two free-agent moves by signing veteran Logan Thomas and journeyman Eric Saubert.

Saubert, 30 years old, figures to be behind Thomas on the depth chart, at least in terms of pass-catching prowess. In 2022, he recorded 148 receiving yards with the Denver Broncos but has never come close to matching that total in any other year.

Eric Saubert career stats

Playing with the Houston Texans in 2023 likely helped convince the 49ers to sign Saubert. After all, Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was once on head coach Kyle Shanahan's staff in the Bay Area.

But that doesn't automatically equate to Saubert being an underappreciated offensive weapon.

What is Eric Saubert's contract with the 49ers?

Saubert signed a one-year deal with the Niners worth up to $1.08 million, $400,000 of which is guaranteed, according to Over the Cap.

If Saubert fails to make the 53-man roster, it'd cost San Francisco $471,250 in dead money, which isn't wholly significant but points to a stronger likelihood of him sticking around in one capacity or another.

What will Eric Saubert's role be with 49ers?

It's important to note that the 49ers' chief blocking tight end from the previous two years, Woerner, is gone. Thomas is more of a receiving threat, whereas the Niners inked Saubert to replace Woerner, and to a lesser extent, Dwelley.

If anything, Latu's presence on the 2024 roster is much more in danger than Saubert, whose niche role seems to be predefined.

Additionally, Saubert has seen plenty of action on special teams over his career, and it's likely San Francisco is eyeing him to fill in on this crucial third phase of the game, too, while coming into the fray on jumbo packages on offense.

Don't expect much more from Saubert other than that, though.

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