49ers add centers, safeties with undrafted rookies
After the 49ers didn't use any of their nine draft picks on a center or safety last week, general manager John Lynch noted they had yet to sign their class of undrafted rookies.
“That might include some candidates,” Lynch said.
It does.
The 49ers have agreed to terms with 14 rookie free agents, and the undrafted class includes two centers and two safeties, both positions of need.
The most notable signing among that group is Arizona State center Dohnovan West, whom the 49ers secured with a $10,000 signing bonus and $100,000 guaranteed. West was a three-year starter who was not called for a holding penalty in his career and made 29 straight starts before he missed the Las Vegas Bowl last season because of a lingering thumb injury that required surgery.
West earned first-team AllPac-12 honors at left guard in 2020 before he received secondteam recognition last year after transitioning to center. He was viewed as a potential late-round pick amid concerns about his size (6-foot-3, 296 pounds).
However, the 49ers prioritize movement skills over mass in their zone-blocking scheme, and West receives strong marks in that area.
The 49ers also added Mercer guard Jason Poe (6-foot, 300), who is expected to transition to center in the NFL. Poe can move better than most linemen in his class: His 40-yard dash at his pro day (4.9 seconds) would have ranked fifth among the 49 offensive linemen who ran at the combine.
Lynch said Saturday that the 49ers are waiting for Pro Bowl center Alex Mack, 36, to decide whether he will return for a 14th season. If Mack retires, the top candidates to replace him on the roster are Jake Brendel, 29, who has three career starts, and incumbent right guard Daniel Brunskill, who started eight games at center in 2020.
Meanwhile, the 49ers added Texas A&M safety Leon O'Neal Jr. (6-foot, 204) and San Diego State safety Tayler Hawkins (6-foot, 203).
O'Neal was a three-year starter who had 18 career pass breakups and six interceptions, but also ran a middling 40-yard dash (4.7 seconds) at his pro day. Hawkins made 33 career starts and earned second-team All-Mountain West honors last year after he had 13 pass breakups and two picks.
The 49ers have an opening at strong safety, a spot manned by Jaquiski Tartt since 2015, and Talanoa Hufanga, George Odum and Tarvarius Moore are expected to compete in training camp. Lynch indicated the 49ers don't intend to re-sign Tartt, 30, who remains a free agent.
“We think highly of Jaquiski,” Lynch said. “He's played a lot of good football for us, and we're grateful for that. Talented, talented dude. And he'll play in this league and continue to play at a high level.”