49ers sign WRs Malik Turner and Marcus Johnson; release and re-sign Hurst for cap purposes

Kyle’s update, April 11, 1:04 PM PT: The 49ers announced that they have signed WR Marcus Johnson and WR Malik Turner to one-year deals. The team also released and re-signed DL Maurice Hurst. The Hurst move was for cap purposes, but the deal is the same one he signed in March.

Hurst’s original deal only had $102,500 in dead money with $945,000 in cap savings. San Francisco is pinching pennies as we get closer to the draft.

According to Over the Cap, the 49ers have the least amount of cap space in the NFL. They’ll need to create more space by the time the NFL Draft rolls around to sign their entire draft class.

Kyle’s update, April 7, 10:38 AM PT: The Niners have signed Marcus Johnson, per ESPN’s Field Yates. Johnson ran a 4.39 40-yard dash back in 2016, so San Francisco adds speed.

Per Aaron Wilson, formerly of The Houston Chronicle, the 49ers are hosting a pair of veteran wide receivers Tuesday. Malik Turner, who recently visited the Arizona Cardinals, and Marcus Johnson were at Niners headquarters.

Turner was an undrafted free agent in 2018 before spending 2018-2019 with the Seattle Seahawks. Turner spent a portion of 2020 on the Green Bay Packers practice squad before joining Dallas and appearing in 11 games for the Cowboys during the 2021 regular season.

Turner, 26, 6’2”, 202 pounds, finished the season with 12 receptions for 149 receiving yards and three touchdowns this past year with the Cowboys. It’s worth noting that 82 of those yards came in a 56-14 blowout late in the year against Washington, and 61 of those yards came on one play.

Johnson, 6’1”, 204 pounds, will be 27 come training camp. He was an undrafted free agent out of Texas, Kyle Shanahan’s alma mater. Johnson appeared in ten games with the Eagles in 2017, 18 with the Colts from 2018 to 2020 — including nine starts — and started in three games last season for the Titans.

Johnson’s calling card seems geared more toward special teams. He has 11 kickoff returns for 216 yards. It’s only an average of 19.6, but that’s one way to get on the field for San Francisco.