Grading all of the San Francisco 49ers' initial moves during the first wave of NFL free agency
The San Francisco 49ers have been busy in free agency without making a splash signing some might have expected. With limited salary cap space to work with, the Niners haven't been in the business of handing out huge contracts, instead sticking to mid-level and affordable contracts while addressing weaknesses on a roster that was agonizingly […]
The San Francisco 49ers have been busy in free agency without making a splash signing some might have expected.
With limited salary cap space to work with, the Niners haven't been in the business of handing out huge contracts, instead sticking to mid-level and affordable contracts while addressing weaknesses on a roster that was agonizingly close to winning the Super Bowl last season.
All of their moves to bring in new faces have been concentrated on the defensive side of the ball to this point. How do those moves stack up? Here I grade San Francisco's signings and re-signings in free agency with the first wave essentially over.
Signings
EDGE Leonard Floyd, two years, $20 million
Grade: B+
The 49ers clearly needed help on the edge with Clelin Ferrell, who has signed with the Washington Commanders, Chase Young and Randy Gregory heading to the open market.
None of that trio gave the 49ers the pass-rushing boost at the edge spot across from Nick Bosa that San Francisco desired. By bringing in Floyd, the 49ers have acquired a veteran with a history of consistent production.
Floyd has 39.5 sacks over the last four seasons, racking up 10.5 last season for the Buffalo Bills. He is familiar with assistant head coach Brandon Staley from their time together with the Los Angeles Rams and provides the Niners with the length and explosiveness they crave from their pass rushers.
On top of that, he does excellent work at the top of his rush and can offer the ability to bend and flatten to the quarterback that the Niners haven't had in an edge since Dee Ford was on the roster.
EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos, two years, $18 million
Grade: C+
From a bet on experience to a bet on potential.
With arms over 34 inches long and pre-draft testing in 2020 that saw him excel in the sections of the workout that measure explosiveness, Gross-Matos again ticks the main boxes for a 49er pass rusher.
He is also coming off his best season as a pro, recording a career-high 4.5 sacks for a dreadful Panthers team. Gross-Matos also had a career-high seven tackles for loss and a second successive season with 10 quarterback hits. His pressure rate, per Sports Info Solutions, of 11.3% was just below that of now former teammate Brian Burns (11.8%). It also wasn't far behind what Young (12%) delivered for the Commanders and Niners. Gross-Matos' sack rate (2.4%) was superior to both Burns (2.3%) and Young (1.8%).
There's some thought Gross-Matos could also be used more often as an interior pass rusher on true passing downs. While the numbers aren't spectacular, the 26-year-old still has room to grow and the combination of his athleticism and potential versatility makes him an intriguing signing.
DT Jordan Elliott, two years, $10 million
Grade: C
With the 49ers deciding to release Arik Armstead after his refusal to take a pay cut and also bidding farewell to Javon Kinlaw, who agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Jets, their depth on the interior of the defensive line was suddenly looking very shaky.
They moved to shore it up with Elliott, who in his four years with the Cleveland Browns missed only one game and made 31 starts over his final two seasons. After struggling against the run down the stretch last season in large part because of Armstead's absence through injury, the 49ers will be pleased to land such a durable player up front.
There are some doubts about Elliott as a run defender, though he did finish 2023 sixth among defensive tackles with an ESPN run stop win rate of 40%. Elliott posted that number while being double teamed 45% of the time.
A to Z Sports' Browns writer Brandon Little said of Elliott: "He likely is what he is going to be by now in the NFL and that’s a rotational 3-tech that can put some good stretches of football together but hasn’t been consistently well-rounded for his position."
The 49ers need more at the defensive tackle spot but, as a low-cost and reliable part of the rotation, Elliott is a decent signing.
LB Eric Kendricks, one-year deal
Grade: B-
The number for Kendricks has yet to come in, but he gives the 49ers an experienced backup plan to Dre Greenlaw, who is recovering from the Achilles tear he suffered in bizarre circumstances in the Super Bowl.
Like Floyd, he brings familiarity with Staley from his season with the Los Angeles Chargers last year. The 32-year-old continues to impress as a tackler, missing only four in the run game, and was Pro Football Focus' second-highest graded pass-rushing linebacker in true pass sets in 2023. He registered four sacks.
The issue for Kendricks, a first-team All-Pro with the Vikings in 2019, is coverage. He gave up a completion rate of 79.7% and a passer rating of 101.8 last season, both unwanted career-highs. Only six linebackers targeted at least 25 times allowed a higher Expected Points Added per target than Kendricks (0.26), per SIS.
San Francisco will hope a potential partnership with All-Pro Fred Warner will help minimize Kendricks' struggles in coverage. When Greenlaw is healthy, Kendricks' presence will give the 49ers a formidable base down linebacker trio that no team will relish attacking.
Re-signings
IOL Ben Bartch, one-year deal
Grade: C
Signed off the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad in November, Bartch's playing time was minimal. However, he's a former starter for Jacksonville who saw his progress derailed by injury. Bartch is only 25 and has guard-center flexibility.
QB Brandon Allen, one-year deal
Grade: C
The 49ers saw one backup, Sam Darnold, leave for a potential starting role with the Vikings. However, they made the easy decision to keep Allen around, giving them at least one Brock Purdy insurance policy. The second may well come via the draft.
WR Jauan Jennings, one-year, $4.89 million (second-round RFA tender)
Grade: B+
Extra points here for the 49ers showing how much they value the man who would likely have been their Super Bowl MVP had they held on against the Kansas City Chiefs. By putting a second-round tender on Jennings, the 49ers removed any possibility of another team signing him to an offer sheet.
San Francisco will now look to get a long-term deal done with their ultra-reliable third wide receiver.
Final Grade
Grade: B-
The 49ers have done a fine job of addressing needs on defense and made three easy decisions with re-signings on offense that won't generate much attention but are important for solidifying depth on that side of the ball.
Still, it's tough to look at the defensive line and not think more needs to be done in that area, especially at defensive tackle. Given the 49ers' history, you'd expect them to have a similar assessment and invest further in the trenches.
