The San Francisco 49ers appear to be all but wrapped up with their free agency plans, but a Thursday transaction could open the door for some renewed work. The Tennessee Titans released cornerback Jason McCourty on Thursday. He was entering his ninth season with the Titans, and was due to make $7 million.
Our friends at Music City Miracles think McCourty still has something left in the tank, but they also don’t think it was worth $7 million. They were not surprised he was released, but thought he might last into training camp due depth issues at the position.
It won’t take McCourty long to find another job. He is still a guy that has value, just not as the No. 1 corner with the $7 million price tag he was carrying for 2017 ... Injuries have been his biggest problem over the last couple of years. He was only able to play in 4 games in 2015 and missed a couple of games in 2016 as well.
The 49ers released Tramaine Brock last week, and have serious need for more cornerback depth. My guess is McCourty will look to sign with a team that is already in contention for 2017. The 49ers made some significant upgrades in free agency, but they have some work to do to get back into playoff contention.
Another notable NFL transaction from Thursday saw defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins sign with the Indianapolis Colts. He was the best interior lineman still on the market, and his wait appears to have paid decent dividends. He signed a three-year deal worth $30 million, with $14 million in guaranteed money. I am not seeing word on how much of the guaranteed money is fully guaranteed, but for a guy to wait this long, it seems like a decent pay-day for him.
The 49ers signed Earl Mitchell, but were rumored to be looking at other DT options. They were never connected to Hankins. The 49ers have some interior options in the upcoming draft, although Solomon Thomas is viewed by many as a guy better suited at end. Jonathan Allen is someone who could be on the radar for the interior, although his shoulder injuries have dropped his stock a bit.