49ers sign veteran to compete with player who went earlier than expected in the draft but still hasn’t lived up to expectations

The pressure is turning up around the NFL. Rosters will get tighter in the coming months, and players must earn their spot. For the San Francisco 49ers, they just added some veteran competition for a key starting role on special teams.  49ers sign veteran punter Thomas Morstead The 49ers are signing veteran punter Thomas Morstead. […]

Adam Holt NFL News Writer
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The pressure is turning up around the NFL. Rosters will get tighter in the coming months, and players must earn their spot. For the San Francisco 49ers, they just added some veteran competition for a key starting role on special teams. 

49ers sign veteran punter Thomas Morstead

The 49ers are signing veteran punter Thomas Morstead. Morstead has moved around the NFL a bit over the past handful of seasons. He spent the past two seasons with the New York Jets. 

Morstead revealed the signing via social media. He has always been an active voice on social media and shown plenty of personality as he's gotten older. Morstead was a fan favorite during his time with the New Orleans Saints. 

Pressure on Mitch Wishnowsky

Wishnowsky is a former fourth-round selection by San Francisco. He was drafted in 2019 but has never quite dominated in a starting role. Pat O'Donnell won the starting punter job over him in 2024 but did not impress, either.

Wishnowsky was middle of the pack around the league in 2023 in average yards per punt and punts landing inside the 20-yard line. This addition of Morstead will assuredly turn up the heat on the former fourth-rounder. That sort of draft capital is notable for a punter or kicker. 

So far, the 49ers have not gotten that sort of value from him. This competition could spark some improvement in Wishnowsky's game. That is probably what the niners are hoping for after this move. We will see.