The San Francisco 49ers missed out on signing safety J.J. Wilcox on Tuesday, but they have found an alternative. The team announced on Wednesday they have signed Antone Exum to a one-year deal.
Exum spent part of last season with the 49ers, signing on November 7th after the team put tackle Garry Gilliam on injured reserve. He was active for two games, including a start at free safety on November 26th when Adrian Colbert was inactive with a thumb injury. After Colbert returned the next week, Exum was inactive the final five games of the season.
Exum first entered the NFL as a 2014 sixth round pick of the Minnesota Vikings. In his three years with Minnesota (2014-16), he appeared in 27 games (two starts) and registered 18 tackles, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble along with 13 tackles on special teams. The Vikings waived him early last season.
The 49ers added safety depth due to some injuries at the position. Marcell Harris is still recovering from a torn Achilles suffered prior to his final season at Florida, while Chanceller James and Don Jones are continuing their respective rehabs from torn ACLs suffered last summer.
Exum is unlikely to earn a roster spot, but will give them some competition in minicamp and potentially early in training camp.