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The San Francisco 49ers have tendered free agents Michael Wilhoite and Tony Jerod-Eddie, according to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area. Both Wilhoite and Jerod-Eddie are exclusive-rights free agents, which means they cannot negotiate with any other team and must sign their tenders now that the 49ers have offered them. There's no real negotiating at this stage.
Exclusive-rights free agents have to be offered a tender by a deadline, otherwise they become normal unrestricted free agents and are able to sign with another team. If a team loses out on an exclusive-rights free agent in this case, they are granted no compensation, unlike restricted free agents.
Jerod-Eddie has been a versatile guy the 49ers use along the defensive line and Jim Tomsula definitely seems to be a fan. He'll be in the defensive line rotation this year unless the 49ers use a high pick and he finds himself out of a job. That seems unlikely, regardless.
Wilhoite is a more interesting scenario. He started most of this past season and played very well, only being overshadowed by rookie Chris Borland later in the season. Replacing a duo of Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman is a wildly difficult task, but the combination of Wilhoite and Borland prevailed. That's why rumors have begun to percolate that the 49ers are attempting to trade Wilhoite.
In many trade scenarios, the team trying to unload a player would likely release him otherwise. That's not going to happen with Wilhoite, who is a very valuable backup and special teamer. The 49ers will be looking for actual compensation for him and if they don't get it, I imagine they'll hold on to him. Whatever the case, Wilhoite's contract won't be an issue, given the exclusive-rights tender is typically at the veteran's minimum for a three-year veteran.
It's worth noting that Maiocco also reported that the 49ers are "not actively trying to trade Wilhoite," but that teams have been making calls. He also notes that the 49ers have not given qualifying offers to tight end Garrett Celek, long snapper Kyle Nelson or running back Phillip Tanner, as the RFA tender comes in at just over $1.5 million this season. San Francisco can likely bring those guys back at the veteran minimum without needing to utilize restricted free agency.