The San Francisco 49ers started free agency Wednesday by getting some needed help for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo
Luke Willson Jersey , agreeing to a four-year contract with versatile running back Jerick McKinnon and a five-year deal with interior offensive
lineman Weston Richburg just after the start of the new league year.
The two deals fill holes on the roster with McKinnon expected to replace departing starter Carlos Hyde and Richburg able to step in immediately as the
starter either at center or guard.
The team also agreed to a three-year deal to keep linebacker Brock Coyle, who started 10 games last season before undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.
General manager John Lynch said McKinnon and Richburg were both high on the team’s priority list in free agency and he was glad to be able to lock both of
them up as soon as the new league year started.
”We see Weston as one of the top young interior offensive linemen in the NFL,” Lynch said. ”His athleticism, intelligence and attitude are a perfect fit
for our scheme. Jerick has proven to be an extremely versatile football player
whose speed, elusiveness and tackle-breaking ability make him a very difficult
matchup for defenses. We can’t wait to get them on the field with their
teammates and coaches later this spring.”
McKinnon spent four years in Minnesota, mostly as a backup, after being drafted in the third round in 2014 out of Georgia Southern. He has rushed for
1,918 yards with an average of 4.0 yards per carry, has 142 catches for 984
yards, and has scored 12 touchdowns.
McKinnon had his most productive season last year, when he ran for a career-high 570 yards while setting personal bests with 51 catches for 421
yards.
McKinnon replaces Carlos Hyde, who is leaving as a free agent for Cleveland. McKinnon has more speed and is a better receiving threat than Hyde and should
fit well into coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
Richburg spent the past four seasons with the New York Giants but played only four games last year because of a concussion. He began his career as a left
guard before moving to center in 2015. He played there the past three seasons
and is considered one of the top pass-blocking players at the position and has
the athleticism to thrive in Shanahan’s zone-running scheme.
Coyle had 62 tackles last season in his first year with the 49ers.
”He’s a selfless guy that does everything the right way
Prince Amukamara Jersey ,” Shanahan said. ”We’ve always known Brock to be a guy we can count on and it was great to see him play the way he did when given
the opportunity.”
The 49ers had previously re-signed starting center Daniel Kilgore to a three-year contract last month but Kilgore also has experience at guard and
could be asked to move.
It’s been a busy offseason already for San Francisco. The Niners signed Garoppolo to a five-year deal last month before he even hit free agency, signed
cornerback Richard Sherman after he was cut by Seattle, re-signed defensive
lineman Cassius Marsh and offensive lineman Garry Gilliam and gave an extension
to receiver Marquise Goodwin.
These moves have addressed many of the team’s most glaring needs although San Francisco still could be in the market for another cornerback, a pass rusher,
help at linebacker and a big receiving target.
After losing their first nine games last year, the 49ers underwent a remarkable turnaround. They went 5-0 after Garoppolo took over as starting
quarterback and finished the year with a 6-10 mark and plenty of optimism they
hope to carry over into 2018.
—
No one saw this one coming: The Cowboys released the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history, moving on from Dan Bailey on Saturday.
Bailey missed five field goals and two extra points last season, but his groin injury, which kept him out four games, explained his uncharacteristic
misses. He should not remain out of work long, with several teams in need of a
reliable kicker.
Bailey made 42 of 47 field goals in special teams and 11-on-11 drills in training camp in Oxnard, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. He made his only
field goal attempt in the preseason.
The Cowboys will go with Brett Maher Justin Blackmon Jersey , who has never kicked in a regular-season game.
The Cowboys also cut receiver Deonte Thompson, who signed a one-year deal that included a $1 million signing bonus in the offseason. He was limited in
training camp with an Achilles’ strain.
Dallas’ other cuts were: receiver Dres Anderson, offensive guard Kyle Bosch, offensive tackle Jake Campos, receiver K.D. Cannon, receiver Darren Carrington,
running back Jordan Chunn, long snapper Scott Daly, offensive tackle Matt Diaz,
defensive end Kony Ealy, offensive lineman Chaz Green, running back Darius
Jackson Kenny Golladay Jersey , safety Jeron Johnson, linebacker Tre'von Johnson, cornerback Kam Kelly, linebacker Joel Lanning, defensive end Austin Larkin,
receiver Lance Lenoir Jr., offensive guard Damien Mama, receiver Mekale McKay,
defensive tackle Lewis Neal, center Jacob Ohnesorge, cornerback Donovan Olumba,
linebacker Eric Pinkins Levine Toilolo Jersey , linebacker Kyle Queiro, defensive tackle Caraun Reid, safety Dominick Sanders, running back Bo Scarbrough, defensive end Charles
Tapper, cornerback Duke Thomas, defensive tackle Jihad Ward, tight end David
Wells and Marquez White.
Safety Marqueston Huff and running back Trey Williams were waived with injury designations.
The Cowboys also confirmed the trade of cornerback Charvarius Ward to Kansas City for offensive guard Parker Ehinger.
Grayson Allen Jersey
