The San Francisco 49ers have three restricted free agents on their roster, and it appears they will let all four openly test the market. Matt Barrows is reporting the 49ers will not tender running back DuJuan Harris, defensive back Marcus Cromartie, or cornerback Chris Davis before the Thursday deadline. That will make all three unrestricted free agents.
I had been a bit confused as to the status of Andrew Tiller. He is an unrestricted free agent, although I am still not sure where his fourth accrued season came from. A player must have four accrued seasons to be an unrestricted free agent. Tiller spent 2012 on IR with the Saints, which counts as one season. He was on the 53-man roster for at least six games in 2015 and 2016, so that counts for seasons two and three. However, in 2013 he seems to have only been a practice squad player. In 2014, he signed with the 49ers practice squad, and then spent three weeks on the active roster. Whatever the case, he is an unrestricted free agent.
The decision to not tender DuJuan Harris leaves the 49ers with Carlos Hyde, Mike Davis, and Raheem Mostert at running back. It is safe to say the 49ers will be adding at least one more running back in free agency and/or the 2017 NFL Draft.
Cromartie is a versatile player, able to play both cornerback and safety. However, his upside is sufficiently limited that if he is getting significant snaps, the depth is a big question mark.
Davis was the 49ers starting nickel back last year before an ACL tear ended his season. The 49ers signed K’Waun Williams earlier this offseason, and he will compete with Will Redmond and Keith Reaser, among others for the nickel back role.