3 NFL Free Agents The San Francisco 49ers Could Still Target

The first week-plus of San Francisco 49ers training camp has given us a lot to think about. This remains one of the most-talented rosters in the NFL. With that said, there’s still some needs heading into Week 1 against the Chicago Bears.

Primarily, the 49ers’ offensive line is struggling in practice against one of the best defensive fronts in the game. Young guards Aaron Banks and Spencer Burford join center Daniel Brunskill as starters on the interior of San Francisco’s offensive line. That seems to be a recipe for disaster with youngster Trey Lance officially the 49ers’ starting quarterback.

There’s also some depth concern on the defensive line following the season-ending injury Maurice Hurst suffered earlier in training camp. With some reliable veterans still available on the NFL free-agent market, we look at four options for San Francisco as training camp continues.

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J.C. Tretter Would Solve San Francisco 49ers’ Offensive Line Issues

It’s not unexpected that San Francisco’s defensive line, led by Pro Bowl edge rusher Nick Bosa, has dominated the team’s offensive line throughout the early stages of training camp.

What is surprising is the fact that these 49ers simply don’t have proven starters at two of their three interior offensive line spots. As noted above, Spencer Burford and Aaron Banks are taking first-team reps at guard. While Banks has performed well, being able to transition Brunskill back to guard would make sense. He’s started all 33 games over the past two seasons and has played pretty well in that role.

Enter into the equation a veteran in Tretter who could solve two issues on the interior of the 49ers’ line. He’d take over as the starting center with Brunskill and Banks starting at guard. Since entering the NFL as a fourth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers back in 2013, Tretter has morphed into a capable center. In fact, he’s started 16 games in each of the past five seasons. It would be similar to the Alex Mack signing ahead of the 2021 season.

Eric Ebron Gives 49ers Another Receiving Tight End

San Francisco pretty much has a six-man race to back up All-Pro George Kittle at tight end during training camp. It brought in veterans Tyler Kroft and Troy Fumagalli during the offseason. Wide receiver convert Jordan Matthews is back in camp and has actually opened some eyes in Santa Clara.

Even then, it’s becoming clear that the 49ers don’t have a reliable receiving threat behind Kittle on the roster. Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley, two players with inside shots to earn a spot on the 53, recorded a combined nine catches last season.

San Francisco values its backup tight ends being able to block in Kyle Shanahan’s system. It can still keep one of Woerner and Dwelley while adding a catch-first option in Ebron to the mix. The former Pro Bowl performer averaged 52 catches for 584 yards from 2015-20 before an injury-plagued 2021 campaign with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’d come in cheap and would be a tremendous fit.

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Sheldon Richardson Would Be A Nice Rotational Defensive Line Option

San Francisco did make a move following Hurst’s season-ending injury, signing nine-year veteran Akeem Spence. But he seems to be nothing more than fodder for training camp. Spence, 30, has played in all of seven games since the end of the 2019 season.

The good news? San Francisco still has depth here. The team added Hassan Ridgeway and former first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche to the mix. Right now, they’d back up starters Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw.

But what harm would it do to kick the tires on a versatile veteran such as Richardson? It’s surprising the former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year remains on the market after a solid 2021 season with the Minnesota Vikings (13 quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks). Richardson, 31, can join Armstead in playing both outside and inside in the 49ers’ defensive front.