49ers roster 2024: UDFA Briason Mays is a total project in the works

The 49ers didn't draft a pure center in 2024, but they grabbed Briason Mays as an undrafted free agent who'll look to develop into something useful.

One of the most-pressing needs the San Francisco 49ers had entering the 2024 NFL Draft was to reinforce their offensive line, namely to find immediate upgrades, long-term replacements and to alleviate depth concerns.

During the draft, the Niners used two picks to grab linemen Dominick Puni and Jarrett Kingston, who'll likely factor into this year's 53-man roster after training camp.

After the draft, however, San Francisco inked former Southern Mississippi center Briason Mays as an undrafted free agent.

There isn't a lot out there about the 6-foot-4, 295-pound lineman, although his bio on the 49ers website does shed some light on his collegiate career:

"Appeared in 41 games (31 starts) over five seasons at Southern Mississippi (2021-23) and West Virginia (2018-20). As a redshirt senior in 2023, appeared in 6 games on an offensive line that helped the Golden Eagles average 162.6 rushing yards per game, ranking sixth in the Sun Belt Conference. In 2022, started in 11 contests and made the transition from center to tackle. As a redshirt sophomore in 2021, appeared in 11 games (6 starts). Appeared in 8 games during the 2020 COVID-19 season. As a redshirt freshman in 2019, started in 7 games for the Mountaineers. Born 2/11/00 in Bolivar, TN."

He also tested well on the RAS (relative athletic score) metric, too, which adds some promise.

What is Briason Mays' contract with 49ers?

According to Over the Cap, Mays signed a three-year UDFA deal with the Niners worth up to $2.84 million, but only $20,000 of it is guaranteed, which doesn't exactly bode well for his chances of making the regular-season roster.

In the unlikely event he manages to survive post-preseason roster cuts, Mays could earn up to $798,333 in 2024 and will be a restricted free agent in 2027, provided he plays out the length of his original contract.

What are the 49ers looking to get out of Briason Mays?

San Francisco has only one pure center on its roster, the starter, Jake Brendel. While other interior linemen have the flexibility to double as Brendel's backup, the hope appears to be for Mays to take a developmental approach, likely ticketed as a member of the 49ers' practice squad for the first year or two of his career.

Related story: Analyzing 49ers' 2024 UDFAs and their fit on the roster

Known for his above-average run-blocking skills, Mays is purely a developmental prospect who'll round out the training camp depth chart with the absolute upside of being someone the Niners potentially turn to in a few years' time.

That's optimistic, of course, as less-heralded UDFA players rarely have an easy path to making a 53-man roster.

In the meantime, Mays is likely one of those players who'll see time late in preseason games before being waived just in advance of Week 1, perhaps reserving a spot on the practice squad.

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