Well, that uneventful Friday turned interesting towards the end, didn’t it? The San Francisco 49ers have reached an agreement to bring free agent Earl Mitchell to the team. He’ll probably serve as the nose tackle in Robert Saleh’s 4-3 defensive conversion. Maybe Glenn Dorsey sticks around, but it’s not a good indicator.
Isn’t it nice to see the 49ers actually doing something in free agency? And not only doing something—this is the right signing. It’s not going to take too much off the cap, it’s veteran leadership on a young team, and it’s an upgrade over what they have. If Glenn Dorsey stays, it could be a really sweet rotation at that position. I know a lot of you are wanting Dontari Poe but there’s two problems: 1: He’s going to cost a lot more than a $16 million and 2: Is giving him all that cheddar worth having him on a team that isn’t going to the playoffs any time soon?
I’d rather give the $16 million, 4-year deal to Mitchell than the huge cost of doing business with Poe when we don’t need a home run hitter like that—yet. Mitchell will help the defense in the 4-3 conversion, bring some veteran leadership, and if it doesn’t work out, it won’t kill the numbers (considering he’s coming off of injury, that deal does worry me a bit, however).
Free agency hasn’t even started yet and the 49ers are doing way better than the Thad Lewis/Zane Beadles signing of last year. On that note, the 49ers shouldn’t do much, they need to see what they have on this roster before they start giving the keys to the York’s vault to players, but they need to be active with something. Both this and the earlier signing of K’Waun Williams may not work out, but at least they are finding some intriguing pieces and seeing what they have. They don’t need to unload on the sure-thing, expensive free agents until after this season once they see what they have on the roster and what fits with some decent coaching.
Mitchell’s a move I’m worried about, but I can get behind. Here’s your links.
49ers sign ex-Dolphins DT Earl Mitchell (Branch)
49ers Could Talk QB Trades at Scouting Combine (Maiocco)
49ers awarded extra fourth-round pick, have 10 picks total (Barrows)
49ers Combine primer: OL (Cohn)
Daniel Jeremiah thinks Kirk Cousins could come to 49ers (Biderman)
49ers Director of College Scouting Hired as Packers Scout (Maiocco)
49ers sign WR DeAndre Carter (Cohn)
Mock NFL draft: 49ers plug hole with Reuben Foster with second pick (Biderman)
49ers 2017 Draft Picks (Maiocco)
What a horrible night to have a curse...