49ers adding depth to line
Unit’s versatility also part of center Richburg’s deal
SANTA CLARA >> As free agency deals officially can get inked today, a key question for the 49ers is how much they’ll spend on Jimmy Garoppolo’s supporting cast. It appears they’ve at least landed an interior lineman to help protect their prized quarterback.
Former New York Giants center Weston Richburg agreed with the 49ers on Tuesday to a five-year deal, ESPN first reported. Richburg, 26, could start at either guard slot or perhaps unseat center Daniel Kilgore, who recently signed a three-year deal.
The 49ers have not confirmed the deal, which can’t be finalized until the signing period opens at 1 p.m. today.
Meanwhile, top skill-position players will strike it rich elsewhere around the league after a flurry of deals Tuesday, including wide receivers and tight ends but not necessarily running backs, the latter of which should be the 49ers’ No. 1 priority now.
By signing Garoppolo to a NFL-record deal (five years, $137.5 million) last month, the 49ers avoided an expensive race for freeagent quarterbacks, led by Kirk Cousins (a pre- Garoppolo solution for the 49ers) and his guaranteed deal with the Vikings (three years, $84 million).
By signing Richard Sherman to an incentive-laden deal Sunday, the 49ers
watched others break the bank for cornerbacks such as Trumaine Johnson (Jets), Malcolm Butler (Titans) and Aaron Colvin (Texans).
It’s unknown how rich the 49ers made Richburg. That deal came after the Jaguars made AllPro guard Andrew Norwell the NFL’s highest-paid guard (five years, $66.5 million including $30 million guaranteed, according to ESPN).
General manager John Lynch vowed to be “aggressively prudent” in free agency, and with over $67 million in salary cap space, the 49ers still can be as active as they desire.
Former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz expects Richburg, his former Giants teammate, to start at center for the 49ers, calling him an “excellent fit” for Kyle Shanahan’s offensive scheme.
Richburg sustained a concussion in the Giants’ fourth game last year and did not return the rest of the season, going on injured reserve a month later. The 6-foot- 4, 300-pound Colorado State product started at left guard as a rookie before switching to center in 2015.
The 49ers at least have an opening at right guard if they let 16-game starter Brandon Fusco go in free agency. Left guard could also open up, even though Laken Tomlinson remains under contract through 2018 after starting 15
games last season upon his trade from the Detroit Lions.
Joshua Garnett, a 2016 first-round draft pick out of Stanford, is expected to compete for a role, if not a starting job, after not playing last season while rehabilitating a knee injury and re- conditioning his body.
Garoppolo got sacked eight times while going 5- 0 as the starter at the end of last season. Kilgore and swing tackle Garry Gilliam received new contracts, and tackles Joe Staley and Trent Brown could be in line for new deals, too.
At running back, with Carlos Hyde off to test the free-agent market, names to watch are Alfred Morris and Jerick McKinnon.
Dion Lewis, the New England Patriots primary rusher last season, agreed to a deal with the Titans, according to ESPN. Isaiah Crowell, who played under Shanahan with the 2014 Cleveland Browns, is expected to sign with the Jets.
• DeShaun Shead, the Seahawks starting cornerback opposite Richard Sherman in 2015-16, was to visit the Detroit Lions on Tuesday and then the 49ers today, NFL Media reported. Shead tore an anterior cruciate ligament in the 2016 Seahawks’ playoff loss at Atlanta, and he didn’t return until last season’s final two games for special-teams duty.
• Sherman said he’ll continuing wearing No. 25 after
bartering with defensive back Jimmie Ward, who has worn that number since arriving as the 49ers’ 2014 top draft pick. “We had a good conversation, and he’s going to give me my number, which is cool and a testament to him,” Sherman said on a radio interview.
• The NFC West’s starting quarterback quartet appears set with Sam Bradford and the Arizona Cardinals agreeing to a oneyear deal Tuesday. Here is the winning percentage of all four starters: the 49ers’ Garoppolo 1.00 (7- 0), the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson .677 (63- 30-1), the Rams’ Jared Goff .500 (11-11), the Cardinals’ Bradford .425 (34- 45-1).