49ers sign OL William Sweet to a one-year deal

The San Francisco 49ers today announced they had signed OL William Sweet to a one-year deal.

Sweet (6-6, 313) originally entered the NFL after signing with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 10, 2019. He was waived/injured by the team on August 31, 2019, and placed on the Injured Reserve List the following day, where he spent the entire season. Arizona waived sweet on February 18, 2020.

A 23-year-old native of Jacksonville, FL, Sweet attended the University of North Carolina (2015-18), where he appeared in 26 games (14 starts) for the Tar Heels. As a junior in 2018, he started 10 games along the offensive line and helped North Carolina average 442.1 yards of total offense and 193.0 rushing yards per game.

Here’s Sweet’s scouting report:

Overview

Early draft entrant with good length but a debilitating lack of functional movement in space and inability to handle pass sets against edge speed. Sweet’s lack of body control and balance shows up on a regular basis when he’s asked to play beyond his area as a run-blocker. His movement could still be hindered by his 2017 ACL injury, but he had many of the same issues with pass sets before his injury. His size traits earn him consideration, but the tape was very uneven.

Strengths

Tall and long

Has arm length to pester rushers

Able to control rushers better with quick sets and early arm extension

Adequate redirect shove around the edge

Effective cut-blocker

Drives down blocks out of the gap

Good hustle to get to play-side reach blocks

Decent grip strength to latch into defender’s frame

Stays connected to blocks for as long as he’s able

Weaknesses

High-cut frame with knock knees and narrow chest

Suffered season-ending knee injury in 2017

Movements are labored and clunky

Leaner up to second level with poor body control

Unable to gain enough ground in pass slides

Has to open and turn way too early to find edge rusher

Poor base strength and defender rip through his post.

Sweet will likely compete with Justin Skule and Colton McKivitiz for the swing tackle position. He also provides another camp body for the 49ers.