Fooch’s update: Sheil Kapadia reporting the deal is worth $2.2 million, with $1.4 million guaranteed.
The San Francisco 49ers have officially dipped their toe in the restricted free agent market. ESPN’s Sheil Kapadia is reporting the 49ers have signed Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Garry Gilliam to an offer sheet for a one-year deal. The 49ers have since confirmed, per Matt Maiocco.
Because Gilliam only had three accrued seasons, he could not become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The Seahawks have five days to match the 49ers offer. If Seattle does not match the offer, Gilliam becomes a 49er. Seattle tendered him at an original round level, and since he was a UDFA, that means they would get no compensation if the Seahawks do not match.
The original round tender is at $1.797 million, but is not guaranteed. Late last week, Kapadia reported Gilliam turned down a multi-year offer from the 49ers. I’m not entirely sure what changed, and I am curious to see what kind of guaranteed money the 49ers offered Gilliam. It would not surprise me if he gets a small signing bonus, and a chance to earn something similar to the original round tender. Then, Gilliam would get a chance to go into unrestricted free agency next year and potentially earn a bigger pay day.
This would presume he earns some kind of role with the 49ers. Maybe he becomes the swing tackle? Maybe he gets a serious shot to unseat Trenton Brown at right tackle? Either way, a one-year deal suggests he will not be handed anything.