The San Francisco 49ers have made another addition to their defense. Since the start of free agency San Francisco has added five new players to their roster, four of them on the defensive side of the ball.
According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the 49ers have agreed to terms with former Carolina Panthers defensive back Myles Hartsfield. Hartsfield follows former Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks to San Francisco.
The Panthers signed Hartsfield as an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss in 2020. Hartsfield was able to make the 53-man roster out of training camp as a rookie and went on to play in 41 games, making 19 starts. The versatile defensive back has primarily played in the slot however he also played 256 snaps at FS for Wilks last season.
During his three seasons in Carolina, Hartsfield recorded 118 tackles, including five for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and seven passes defensed.
The signing of Hartsfield comes a day after San Francisco lost defensive back Tarvarius Moore in free agency to the Green Bay Packers.
Hartsfield’s versatility gives the 49ers four safeties on their roster with starting experience. They still may look to add a rookie safety through the draft to compete for a roster spot.
Hartsfield also fills the special teams void left by the departure of Moore. Hartsfield played 470 snaps and recorded two tackles on special teams for the Panthers.
Additions
DT Javon Hargrave (Eagles: Four years, $84 million, $40 million guaranteed at signing)
QB Sam Darnold (Panthers: One-year, $4.5 million. Potential for up to $11.5 million with incentives)
DL Clelin Ferrell (Raiders: One-year, $2.5 million, $1.82 million guaranteed at signing)
DB Isaiah Oliver (Falcons: Two years, terms not disclosed)
DB Myles Hartsfield (Panthers: One year, Terms not disclosed)
Re-Signed
TE Ross Dwelley (One-year, terms not disclosed)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (One-year, $1.835 million, $1.25 million fully guaranteed)
DL T.Y. McGill (One-year, terms not disclosed)
C Jake Brendel (Four years, $8 million guaranteed, max value of $20 million)
S Tashaun Gipson (One-year, $2.9 million)
OL Colton McKivitz (Two years, $4.56 million, $2.87 million guaranteed, $1.87 million guaranteed at signing)
DL Kevin Givens (One-year, $2 million, fully guaranteed)
LS Taybor Pepper (Three years, $3.96 million, $1.5 million fully guaranteed)
Losses
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (Raiders: Three years, $72.75 million, $33.75 guaranteed at signing)
OT Mike McGlinchey (Broncos: Five-years, $87.5 million, $17.5 million signing bonus, $52.5 million guaranteed)
DT Hassan Ridgeway (Texans: One-year, up to $4 million, $3 million guaranteed at signing)
FS Jimmie Ward (Texans: Two years, $13 million, $8.5 million fully guaranteed at signing)
CB Emmanuel Moseley (Lions: One-year, $6 million)
LB Azeez Al-Shaair (Titans: One year, worth up to $6 million, $4.25 million guaranteed)
DE Samson Ebukam (Colts: Three years, $24 million with $10.755 guaranteed)
OL Daniel Brunskill (Titans: Two years, $5.5 million with $1.5 million guaranteed)
DE Charles Omenihu (Chiefs: Two years, $20 million, $8.6 million guaranteed)
S Tarvarius Moore (Packers: one year, terms were not disclosed)
DT Maurice Hurst (Browns: one year, terms were not disclosed)
Pending Free Agents
K Robbie Gould
DE Kerry Hyder
TE Tyler Kroft
QB Josh Johnson
DE Jordan Willis
CB Jason Verrett
Depth Chart
Here is how I see the 49ers depth chart at this time. I will update this throughout the offseason and training camp. Players with new contracts will be in bold.
| Offense | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Player 4 |
| Quarterback | Brock Purdy | Trey Lance | Sam Darnold | |
| Running Back | Christian McCaffrey | Elijah Mitchell | Jordan Mason | Ty Davis-Price |
| Fullback | Kyle Juszczyk | |||
| LWR | Brandon Aiyuk | Danny Gray | ||
| RWR | Deebo Samuel | Jauan Jennings | Ray-Ray McCloud | |
| TE | George Kittle | Charlie Woerner | Ross Dwelley | |
| Left Tackle | Trent Williams | |||
| Left Guard | Aaron Banks | |||
| Center | Jake Brendel | Nick Zakelj | ||
| Right Guard | Spencer Burford | |||
| Right Tackle | Colton McKivitz | Jaylon Moore |
| Defense | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 |
| LDE | Drake Jackson | Clelin Ferrell | |
| LDT | Javon Hargrave | Javon Kinlaw | T.Y. McGill |
| RDT | Arik Armstead | Kevin Givens | Kalia Davis |
| RDE | Nick Bosa | ||
| WLB | Dre Greenlaw | Oren Burks | |
| MLB | Fred Warner | Marcelino McCray-Ball | |
| SLB | Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles | ||
| LCB | Deommodore Lenoir | Ambry Thomas | |
| SS | Talanoa Hufanga | Myles Hartsfield | |
| FS | Tashaun Gipson | George Odum | |
| RCB | Charvarius Ward | ||
| NB | Isaiah Oliver | Samuel Womack | |
| Special Teams | Player 1 | |||||
| Kicker | ||||||
| Punter | Mitch Wishnowsky | |||||
| Long Snapper |
Taybor Pepper
|
|||||
| Reserves | ||||||
| Alfredo Gutierrez (OL) | Curtis Robinson (LB) | Alex Barrett (DE) | Jason Poe (OL) | A.J. Parker (CB) | ||
| Qwuantrezz Knight (DB) | Tayler Hawkins (S) | Keith Ismael (OC) | Leroy Watson (OL) | Tay Martin (WR) | ||
| Dazz Newsome (WR) | Tyron Johnson (WR) | Tre Swilling (CB) | ||||
Sounds like a solid signing a STs player who can backup at S and nickle. I still think they might use one of their 3rd round picks on a S. Looks like there will be plenty of competition at camp.
Niners need a KO kicker that can consistently reach the end zone.
If the 9ers don’t sign any additional free agents. These are, IMO, the priority for positions needed in the draft:
Round 3: OT, EDGE, TE
Round 5: CB, SLB, S
Round 6: K
Round 7: QB, FB, C, IOL.
UDFA: TE, OG, RB, CB, OT
Geep,
I would do two things differently. First I would possibly draft the K earlier, the only K I really like is the kid from Mich and I think he may go before the end of the 6th round. Second I would double up on the edge rusher and take one less CB. imho
OldCoach
RE kicker. I understand your position on the kicker, we discussed that a few days ago, BTW, I don’t dislike Moody
and I agree he’s one of the best college kickers in the 2023 NFL draft. (won the Lou Groza Award) . However, he’s had his share of struggles this season. While he attempted more field goals than anyone in the nation he’s only completed 79.2%. He does have a career-long of 54 yards demonstrating his leg power, Moody’s converted under 50% of his 50+ yard attempts this year
Szmyt, from Syracuse, won the Lou Groza Award as a freshman, he was responsible for 151 of Syracuse’s points as a constant kicker who could get the job done from downtown. This season is almost a mirror image of that campaign.
RE EDGE: Who would be your second choice and what round would you draft him?
RE CB: Remember the old saying, you can never have too many CB’s? lol
Mevis from Missouri excelled at every step of his kicking journey. At Warsaw High School, Mevis was named the Burger King Outstanding Athlete. He holds high school records, Missouri freshman records, and in his third season with the Tigers, has the most 50+ yard conversions in school history.
Although he also struggled from shorter distance this year, no kicker in this class has more 50+ completions. And no one can match his 56-yard long field goal, which he’s accomplished in two consecutive seasons.
OldCoach
I just found out the 9ers have signed CB Isaiah Oliver to a one-year deal, a former 2nd round pick of Atlanta.
Geep,
I would rather resign Gould for a fair one year contract and sign a KO specialist than draft a K. Its beginning to look more and more like Gould could be back. I have heard/read that he has no suitors. Right now the 49ers only have 3 DEs (not counting PS player A. Barrett) under contract. I agree with you on never having enough CBs but the 9ers need to add at least 3 DEs. Now Willis and Hyder haven’t been signed yet so that could change soon so my vision of the draft could also change.
OldCoach
RE Gould: As we discussed on the 17th! With several top kickers in the draft this year, Lynch is waiting to see if anyone makes him an offer. If not, he may offer him a little over the NFL minimum salary ($1.075 Mil) for a vet with 7 or more years seniority?
So lets say you’re correct and the 9ers do bring Gould back, how much (base salary) would you be willing to pay Gould and how much in incentives?
Since no other NFL team appears to be interested, I think a JL offer of one year, $1.5 Mil. base salary & $500K in incentive, would be my best offer.
Interesting about Gould. Looks like we could get him on the cheap but when is the right time to move on. It has to happen sometime. If the Niners have somebody in mind in the draft maybe it’s time to move on. He’s weak on kick offs and it doesn’t make sense to add another person to the 53 just to do kick offs,
Felix, yes, there are too many excellent returners. I’ve started to hold my breath in anticipation of disaster when we kickoff. Very tempting to draft a kicker with a big leg; not only for kickoffs, but also for end-of-half, end-of-game desperation 60-yarders. If there is such a talent, I’d definitely be willing to draft as high as we can if the front office thinks that’s what it would take.
Felix
It’s also possible that is what Lynch is thinking….Moving on from Gould and signing one of the top 3 kickers in the 2023 draft….Moody, Szmyt or Melvis.
Felix,
With the way the 49ers allowed opponents to gain large chunk of yards on kick-offs last season, it’s imperative for them to close that gap.
Heck, if they have someone already on the upcoming roster that can consistently kick into the end zone that’s even better.
But the 49ers will likely sign an 7th rd or UDFA kicker with a stronger leg than Gould. As a field goal kicker Gould is still a top 5. The challenge would be to find a great field goal and kick-off player if Gould walks.
what is 9ers ?
Jack / Anyone:
Another Eagle free agent the 9er FO should be interested in is S Gardner-Johnson. A player with a nose for the ball, that had six interceptions (tied for the league lead) in 12 games last season.
There have been crickets this week regarding Gardner-Johnson. Typically, that’s a sign the player wants more than anyone will pay. Do you have any info as to why he’s still unsigned?
Spotrac lists 25 y/o Gardner-Johnson’s 2022 salary at $2,540,000. JL should make him a 2 year offer of $6 Mil. with a $2 Mil signing bonus?
NOTE: If needed, the 9er FO can free up some cap space by restructuring CMC’s contract.
UPDATE: PER ADAM SCHEFTER:
Free agent S Gardner-Johnson is signing a contract with the Lions that will pay him $8 million in 2023