The 2017 free agency period is down to a trickle, but that has not stopped the Buffalo Bills from making some notable moves. The Bills have signed two San Francisco 49ers free agents, landing wide receiver Rod Streater and linebacker Gerald Hodges.
The 49ers will not have nearly enough free agency departures to offset their additions in the comp pick formula, but it’s interesting to see some of these signings happening. The 49ers re-signed few of their free agents as the team has begun a roster overhaul under new management. The players departing are not bad football players, but as part of a long-term rebuild, they’re not on the radar.
Streater was a limited factor for a 49ers offense that was not particularly good most of the season. He got opportunities due to injuries, and finished the season with 18 receptions for 191 yards and two touchdowns. The 49ers originally acquired him at the end of last preseason in a deal that involved swapping conditional 2019 seventh round draft picks (seriously). Sammy Watkins and Zay Jones are dealing with injuries, so there is some room on the Bills’ wide receiver depth chart.
The 49ers originally acquired Hodges in an October 2015 deal that sent Nick Easton and a sixth round pick to the Minnesota Vikings. Hodges got playing time due to injuries, and at times flashed some things. He was deactivated in Week 15 this past year due to a rule violation, and the 49ers were never connected with him this offseason.