Speaker 1: Hello, faithful, Welcome to the forty nine Ers First and
Speaker 1: ten podcast, presented by Cisco. I'm your host Brian McDonald,
Speaker 1: joined by forty nine Ers team reporter Lindsay Plares. In
Speaker 1: today's episode, we're diving into the start of the NFL
Speaker 1: free agency signing period and also previewing the twenty twenty
Speaker 1: five NFL Draft. We've got some updates for Niners fans,
Speaker 1: but lindsay, what should fans be expecting in this episode? Really,
Speaker 1: we've got a lot to cover.
Speaker 2: There's a lot of reports going on social media, and
Speaker 2: I'm not saying to ignore them, but we are not
Speaker 2: going to be able to talk about them on this podcast,
Speaker 2: So just be mindful. We are talking about players that
Speaker 2: have put pen to paper either with this organization or
Speaker 2: that have already left this organization and put pen to
Speaker 2: paper at their new landing spot, So keep that in
Speaker 2: mind as we go through today. But we are going
Speaker 2: to talk about free agency departures, free agency additions, and
Speaker 2: then also compensatory draft picks. So we're going to cover
Speaker 2: a little bit of a little bit of everything in
Speaker 2: the podcast.
Speaker 1: Yes, breaking you the most official, most urgent news coming
Speaker 1: out of the start of free agency. But with free agency,
Speaker 1: players go, players come, players stay. We'll start with the
Speaker 1: departures most pressing. Wide receiver Devo Samuel has been traded
Speaker 1: to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a twenty twenty
Speaker 1: five to fifth round draft choice. Lindsay, what does this
Speaker 1: mean for the Niners organization in really the wide receiver
Speaker 1: room moving forward?
Speaker 2: The wide receiver room is going to look a lot
Speaker 2: different in twenty twenty five. I think that's obvious. This
Speaker 2: Deevo Samuel trade has been all over every X timeline,
Speaker 2: the news, every TV broadcast for really, I want to say,
Speaker 2: since the combine, when John Lynch was able to really
Speaker 2: first express Deebo Samuel's desire for a trade. So yeah,
Speaker 2: obviously a fan favorite gone from the forty nine ers,
Speaker 2: and I've seen it all over social media, just everyone's reactions,
Speaker 2: team reactions to this trade. But I think really it
Speaker 2: was about Deebo Samuel wanting that fresh start, the team
Speaker 2: honoring that, and he is going to a landing spot
Speaker 2: that really is a familiar place. And I say that
Speaker 2: because he's headed to the Washington Commanders, where former assistant
Speaker 2: GM Adam Peters is now the current GM. There also
Speaker 2: there is familiarity with quarterback Jaden Daniels. He is a
Speaker 2: very good friend of Brandon Ayuk, who is on our roster,
Speaker 2: but they have met through BA, so there definitely is
Speaker 2: a growing relationship there, it sounds, and I didn't want
Speaker 2: to move on from Deebo Salmon without talking about his
Speaker 2: Player's Tribune article, which I really enjoyed reading. I think
Speaker 2: that was largely to give a proper thank you, not
Speaker 2: just to the people within the organization, but the fan
Speaker 2: base that you know, helped lift up Deebo Samuel over
Speaker 2: the last six seasons. I loved the shout outs to
Speaker 2: everyone top to bottom in this organization at the very
Speaker 2: end of it, and he really described his time here
Speaker 2: with the Niners like a fairy tale. Did you have
Speaker 2: a favorite apart from that article?
Speaker 1: No, definitely. I think mostly what stood out from the
Speaker 1: article is just what he means to really franchise history
Speaker 1: for the forty nine ers. He was a huge part
Speaker 1: of the Niners identity for these six seasons. I mean,
Speaker 1: his twenty twenty one season really stood out, earning ap
Speaker 1: first team All Pro honors in his first Pro Bowl selection.
Speaker 1: He was a fan favorite throughout the Niners' entire lore
Speaker 1: for these past six years. So it's really big for
Speaker 1: the fan base and really big for Deebo Samuel too
Speaker 1: with his fresh start.
Speaker 2: Yeah, and he popularized the term wide back. You really
Speaker 2: was that do it all wide receiver like you mentioned.
Speaker 2: Twenty twenty one a very productive year for Deebo Samuel
Speaker 2: also a two time captain on this team, so I
Speaker 2: know a lot of people are going to be missing him.
Speaker 2: And he's also joined by Kyle Yuschek, a fullback who
Speaker 2: has spent the last eight seasons with the Niners. He
Speaker 2: has been released and also another fan favorite.
Speaker 1: I would say yes. I mean, I think what I'm
Speaker 1: going to miss most and what the faith We're going
Speaker 1: to miss most is hearing that juice echoed throughout this
Speaker 1: stadium for almost every single game at Levice Stadium or
Speaker 1: even on the road. A fan favorite really globally for
Speaker 1: the faithful. But Yes, originally drafted by the Baltimore Ravens
Speaker 1: in twenty thirteen, but came in the first round of
Speaker 1: free agents under Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch when they
Speaker 1: came into the Niners regime in twenty seventeen, has had
Speaker 1: an amazing stint with the forty nine Ers, earned his
Speaker 1: ninth consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl this past season,
Speaker 1: so a staple in the backfield for the Niners. So
Speaker 1: that's going to look a lot different with Deebo Samuel
Speaker 1: and Kyle youues check out of the mix, We're going
Speaker 1: to have a lot of questions moving forward for the backfield.
Speaker 2: And yeah, Kyle Gyuschek was definitely a playmaker for the Niners,
Speaker 2: a lead blocker, but also was a really effective ball carrier,
Speaker 2: a really really reliable pass catcher. So yes, there is
Speaker 2: going to be some configuration on that offense, and I
Speaker 2: think we'll get a better look at what that looks
Speaker 2: like depending on, you know, who puts pen to paper
Speaker 2: as a free agency addition as we progress through this
Speaker 2: free agency period that really extends to role weeks, so
Speaker 2: more moves to come obviously.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think with Kyle Yuschik and Deebo Samuel, they
Speaker 1: really gave the Niners an identity for what they look
Speaker 1: for in players, and we could use this template as
Speaker 1: we look at the draft moving forward. The Niners really
Speaker 1: like those players who are versatile and can do it all.
Speaker 1: Deebo Samuel, like you mentioned did it all with the
Speaker 1: wide back Kyle yus Check could fit in almost every position.
Speaker 1: I think he was punting or holding kicks at one
Speaker 1: point too.
Speaker 2: Yes, he was an emergency quarterback, an emergency punter, and
Speaker 2: I think like second in line as an emergency kicker.
Speaker 2: So on top of just being a do it all weapon,
Speaker 2: he also had many emergency roles on this team, so
Speaker 2: we definitely appreciate that about him.
Speaker 1: So two players who can serve as really great templates
Speaker 1: on who the Niners could look for in this upcoming draft,
Speaker 1: but also released was defensive lineman Malik Collins and defensive
Speaker 1: lineman Javon Hargrave. What do you have to say about
Speaker 1: these two players who are now no longer with the team.
Speaker 2: I think one of the themes of this free agency
Speaker 2: right was creating that financial flexibility, getting a little bit younger,
Speaker 2: and it looks like it really is a near fresh
Speaker 2: start with that defensive line. And those were two players
Speaker 2: that were going to be a high cost, so that
Speaker 2: kind of explains their exits. Also wanted to call attention
Speaker 2: to cornerback Tarvarius Ward spent three years with the Niners
Speaker 2: as well. He was an unrestricted free agent went on
Speaker 2: to sign with the Colts, also moving on, and I
Speaker 2: do think fan favorite as well. Despite his short time here,
Speaker 2: really really productive twenty twenty three season led the league
Speaker 2: in passes defense with twenty three that year six interceptions,
Speaker 2: one return for a touchdown against Arizona Cardinals to help
Speaker 2: the Niners win the West. I think that's a memory
Speaker 2: that really sticks out in my head because it just
Speaker 2: was such a cool game.
Speaker 1: On Friday, March seventh, earlier before we recorded this episode,
Speaker 1: the Niners claimed cornerback Tray Tomlinson off of waivers from
Speaker 1: the Los Angeles Rams. He was originally drafted by the
Speaker 1: Rams and spent two years there. He appeared in fifth
Speaker 1: team games, registered five tackles eight special teams tackle, so
Speaker 1: it looks like he could also be a special teams ACE.
Speaker 1: But staying with the Niners is defensive lineman Kevin Gibbons.
Speaker 1: He earned a one year extension. What do you have
Speaker 1: to say about Givens and what he brings and continues
Speaker 1: to bring for the Niners this year?
Speaker 2: Kevin Gibbins is someone that has continued to be re
Speaker 2: signed to these one year deals with the Niners. I
Speaker 2: think a really important depth piece for a forty nine
Speaker 2: Ers D line that is going to be completely revamped
Speaker 2: in this second term of Robert Sala. Definitely has history
Speaker 2: with Robert Sala was definitely here during his first tenures,
Speaker 2: so there's a familiarity obviously with both Sala. Chris kaserk
Speaker 2: undrafted free agent, has earned his right to be here
Speaker 2: year after a year after a year and has appeared
Speaker 2: in a lot of important a lot of important games
Speaker 2: for the Niners nine postseason appearances and also had a
Speaker 2: career best year three and a half sacks last season.
Speaker 2: Was injured for that later part of the year, got
Speaker 2: injured Week thirteen. He tore his peck. But you know,
Speaker 2: I think I think we're gonna expect what we've seen
Speaker 2: from him, and that's consistently just adding that depth to
Speaker 2: the forty nine Ers D line.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it seems like he keeps on stacking his years
Speaker 1: on top of one another, especially with his career high.
Speaker 1: They're gonna have sas last season. So excited to see
Speaker 1: what's to come with Kevin Gibbons. But the forty nine
Speaker 1: Ers also tendered a one year contract to restricted free
Speaker 1: agent running back Jordan Mason. What exactly does a tender
Speaker 1: mean in this scenario.
Speaker 2: Yeah, so I think got my first real experience with
Speaker 2: a second round tender, which is what Jordan Mason has
Speaker 2: received last year with Duan Jennings. So basically what it
Speaker 2: means is he is a restricted free agent. So that
Speaker 2: allows the forty nine ers to match any offer of
Speaker 2: a team that wants to pick up Jordan Mason and
Speaker 2: then keep him, or if they do opt to let
Speaker 2: him go, the team that signs him has to give
Speaker 2: them a second round draft pick. So it really does
Speaker 2: work out well for the Niners. If it works out
Speaker 2: for Jordan Mason to stay here, he will be well compensated.
Speaker 2: So it is just an interesting kind of little deviation
Speaker 2: from a normal free agent that is not restricted. And
Speaker 2: he was one of two restricted free agents for the Niners.
Speaker 2: Curtis Robinson was the other and he also got a
Speaker 2: deal today.
Speaker 1: Yes, definitely, and he was the Walter Payton manadeer. I'm
Speaker 1: excited to see him in the building for another year. Now,
Speaker 1: let's talk NFL Draft. Speaking of that second round draft
Speaker 1: pick with Jordan Mason, some news came out today for
Speaker 1: Niners fans with compensatory picks. Lindsay, can you explain the
Speaker 1: difference between what a special compensatory pick is versus just
Speaker 1: a regular compensatory pick.
Speaker 2: Yes, a special compensatory pick is awarded to teams that
Speaker 2: help develop talent in house that results in an executive
Speaker 2: something like a GM or talent developed in house. On
Speaker 2: the coaching side, the Niners had two of those right
Speaker 2: after the twenty twenty two season. Former defensive coordinator Demiko
Speaker 2: Ryans went on to be the head coach of the
Speaker 2: Houston Texans, and then Ran Karthon, who was the director
Speaker 2: of Pro Personnel here formerly went on to be the
Speaker 2: GM of the Tennessee Titans. And so for that reason,
Speaker 2: the Niners earned a special compensatory pick along with three
Speaker 2: regular compensatory picks, and they are tied for the most
Speaker 2: awarded in the league.
Speaker 1: Nice So if we take a total look at what
Speaker 1: our draft picks look like this year with those compensatory picks,
Speaker 1: looks like we've got eleven one in the first round,
Speaker 1: one in the second round, two in the third round,
Speaker 1: two in the fourth round. One of those is the
Speaker 1: special compensatory pick, plus another compensatory pick one in the
Speaker 1: fifth round that came from the trade for Deebo Samuel
Speaker 1: with Washington, or the trade for Deebo Samuel with Washington
Speaker 1: and one sixth round pick. There's three in the seventh round.
Speaker 1: Two of those are compensatory. So looks like we've got
Speaker 1: a lot stocked up in the draft. And it's easy
Speaker 1: to see that because it looks like the forty nine
Speaker 1: ers want to get younger in the upcoming year. We've
Speaker 1: talked about a lot on this podcast. There's a lot
Speaker 1: to expect in the draft this year. What are some
Speaker 1: of your mainstays or what are you looking for or
Speaker 1: in the draft this year? What do you think the
Speaker 1: Niners are going to do with all these picks.
Speaker 2: I certainly think that there is a heavier need on
Speaker 2: defense at this point. The defensive line is going to
Speaker 2: need a revamp. And again it's hard to say right
Speaker 2: now because again all the deals that we're also seeing
Speaker 2: on social media not finalized, so I would like to
Speaker 2: see how those materialize in order to get a better idea.
Speaker 2: But I mean, I think there is a need on
Speaker 2: the d line at the linebacker position, also in the secondary,
Speaker 2: depending on what Brandon Ayuk's recovery looks like a wide
Speaker 2: receiver at some point, I don't think that's something that
Speaker 2: needs to be addressed with a first round pick. But again,
Speaker 2: there are a number of needs for the Niners at
Speaker 2: this point and before free agency really takes shape. Because
Speaker 2: we're filming this a couple hours after that one o'clock
Speaker 2: Pacific Standard time deadline, it's hard to say for sure
Speaker 2: at this point.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and for Niners fans, I'm sure it hurts with
Speaker 1: the first news coming out of free agency, but it
Speaker 1: could also get you excited for the end of April
Speaker 1: when I start making picks in the draft, and we
Speaker 1: could get excited for those younger players who are soon
Speaker 1: to be rookies on the Niners. So a lot to
Speaker 1: look out for. Faithful, stay buckled in because there's a
Speaker 1: lot of news, a lot of news to come. So
Speaker 1: stay tuned for any breaking news from us by subscribing
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Speaker 1: news episodes, and Faithful, thanks for tuning in.