49ers cut OT Garry Gilliam

Posted By on February 13, 2019

San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Garry Gilliam (76) during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)

The 49ers just announced they have released backup offensive tackle Garry Gilliam.

Here’s a statement from 49ers GM John Lynch: “We would like to thank Garry for his contributions to the team the last two seasons. He filled in admirably when called upon and was a consummate teammate. We wish him and his family all the best.”

By releasing Gilliam, the 49ers saved $5 million in cap space, a significant amount. But, I doubt they cut him just to save money. The 49ers have more than $60 million in cap space — they don’t need more.

I believe the 49ers cut Gilliam mostly because they intend to draft a tackle this year, and that rookie will become the backup swing tackle. Then, in 2020, he will replace Joe Staley in the starting lineup.

How do you interpret this transaction?

This article has 107 Comments

  1. It was a fait accompli when they traded for Coleman. I think after round-1, the OT position drops off significantly, and I really believe Staley has a couple years left in him. More than likely they wait until day 3 to invest in the position, and let him compete with Coleman and DiLauro for the swing OT….

      1. Gilliam looks like Tarzan, but played like Jane.
        .
        Eric Magnuson and his versatility may have made Gilliam expendable.

      3. I think Cody Ford would be a great addition to the depth chart. He has great athleticism despite the fact that he weighs 335 pounds and he can play both guard and tackle. If he loses some weight (315-320) he would be awesome. Plus, he is regarded as the best gaurd in this draft

          2. The can fill some vital needs if they trade down. Trading the #2 could conceivably give them some very good cache in return.

            I’d like to see them garner 2 picks in rd one, and another high pick in rd two.

            In this scenario they could still get an Edge later in rd one and get a WR or Olinemen at the bottom of rd one.
            Two high picks in rd two could land a LB and CB.

            The team still has many holes to fill in key areas. Getting 4 high picks through rd 2 is a great way to start (imo).

      4. Huh? Gilliam looked awful anytime he stepped foot on the field. Let’s see how Coleman plays at least a snap in our offense before judging maybe?

    2. Yeah, be nice to get something out of Coleman.

      Chances are they will draft an OT as well though.

  2. I think this move was made to give Gilliam an opportunity to secure a job with another team before the market is flooded with players who are better than he is. Professional courtesy. I think they definitely attempt improve the offensive line during the offseason but more likely the interior. Tackle can wait at least one more year before it’s a priority.

  3. Dumervil said he sees a lot of potential in Solomon Thomas, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 draft. Dumervil said a lot of Thomas’ lack of production can be traced to the coaching staff for not figuring out how to best utilize Thomas’ skills.

    “It’s the duty of the coaches to put him in the best position to be successful,” Dumervil said. “I think he needs to be well-coached. He has a lot of raw talent, but the obvious factor is, you have to get a D-line guy who knows D-line and give him the best opportunity to go ahead and put him in the best position to be successful.

    “Whatever decision it is, you have to put him there so he can develop. But I do think he has tremendous upside. It’s just a matter of finding that synergy where he can do his job better.”

    Makes sense given the Kocurek hiring.

    “I think (Nick) Bosa is a slam dunk,” Dumervil said. “I don’t know if he’ll be available or not. He’s got the pedigree. There’s rumors that he might be better than (brother) Joey. Time will tell. I think he’s a no-brainer if he gets to them. If the Niners get him, they’ll become a playoff-contending team.”

    If Bosa is taken with the No. 1 pick, Dumervil said the 49ers would have to determine whether Josh Allen of Kentucky is a fit for the team’s 4-3 scheme.

    “He has talent,” Dumervil said. “It’s a matter if he’s a 3-4 guy or a D-end guy. That will be the question. I kind of think his measurables are more suited for an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.”

          2. Since Dumervil spent one season with Thomas as his teammate and is a former NFL pass rusher, I will take his word over yours.

            2. If he is as good as Dumervil says he is, the Cards will almost be forced to take him as the first pick.
              .
              Then, I wonder if the Cards will make the playoffs next year with him.

              1. The Cardinals offensive line is a mess. No one player will help them into the playoffs no matter who it is.

              2. Not only that, the interior of their DL needs a massive upgrade, and the jury is still out on Rosen.

              3. I especially think his first statement was true. The past coaches did not utilize him properly, or put him in positions to succeed.
                .
                I will go with Whitner’s comment. Thomas may fit better in a 3-4 than a 4-3 system. Maybe the best scenario would be to trade Thomas and Witherspoon with the Broncos for a 2nd round pick. Fangio probably could utilize him properly. Witherspoon played at Colorado, so he might like going back to his roots. 2 for 1 may be a good deal for the Broncos in 2 areas of need, and the Niners would greatly benefit getting that second round pick (41). Derek Wolfe has been injured, at times, Gotsis averages a little over 2 tackles per game, and Bradley Roby is a free agent.

              4. ‘If the Niners get him, they will become a playoff contending team.’
                .
                Cards beat the Niners twice last season.

              1. It is hard to take your word Grant because your response to Razor indicates that you have not seen all of what he said and are merely disagreeing with Dumervil due to his takes not matching your views. Offer something better than simply saying Dumervil was wrong on all points.

              2. I’m not going argue with you and Razor about this. We’ll see who’s correct down the line. You have every right to trust Dumervil’s opinion.

              3. I am simply wanting a better explanation from you Grant. Stating someone is wrong on all points without stating why you think that is like telling someone that their cooking stinks but not going into detail why said cooking stinks.

              4. Fine. I’ll say I disagree with Dumervil on all his points.

                The 49ers have played Thomas at 3-technique and he still can’t rush the passer.

                Nick Bosa is not better than Joey.

                And Allen can play Leo or Sam in the 49ers defense. Plus, base defense doesn’t matter.

              5. So you disagree with Dumervil stating that it was a bad idea for the 49ers to have released him?
                And again, you are stating the what and not the why.

              7. Well there you go. You can’t use a blanket statement that Dumervil literally got all of his points wrong if you agree on one of them. Unless (for some reason) you believe te pint you agree with is wrong also. ?

          3. Another fool who thinks he knows more about the game then the guy who played it at a high level for years.

              1. Of course they do. Just look at how well John Elway has evaluated the QB position in his time as GM. Get with it, Grant.

              3. Patriots have some very good scouts that were football players, and one of them just became a HC.

              8. Ah yes, the Patriots. Such a long list of successful coaches and front office people once they’ve left Belichick.

              9. Hammer, your point seems to be that former football players make poor scouts. The Nunn-Wooten Fellowship, created by the NFL in January 2015 for former players interested in a career in professional scouting might take issue with that belief. It was named after two scouting gurus, one of which was a former player named John Wooten….

              10. My point is that just because a guy was a star at a certain position it does not mean that he will be good at player evaluation of said position.

                There’s a wide range of places that anyone can go to learn player evaluation. Good on those guys for setting one up.

              11. Just because a player was a star at a certain position and is not good at evaluating said position does not mean another star player at a certain position isn’t good at evaluating that said position either.

              13. Elite players do not make good scouts, just like they rarely make good coaches. Joe Montana was honest. He said he did not want to spend all his time fixated on coaching. He knew the long hours the coaches spent every day. Brent Jones said the same thing. He wants to enjoy life. Coaches have no life. He would rather eat his Wagyu Beef.
                .
                Scouts are the same way. They are grafted next to the monitor, watching film for hours. Visiting out of the way locations to watch some prospect. 90% will not make the NFL. Scouts have an advantage, because they see similar players every day. The trick is to find the difference maker.
                .
                Looking at past history, 2 people JL should discount their scouting advice are KS and Paraag. KS advocated trading up for CJB and Joe Williams. Paraag set up the Foster trade and Streets ACL pick. KS and Paraag’s past history should disqualify them from having a major influence in the draft. 2 scouts who should have more of a say in the draft board are the 2 who found George Kittle and Adrian Colbert.

              15. Right, Sebber but they sure do make good kneelers.?

                Btw, I encourage you to take a gander at DraftNastyMagazine where Corey Chavous, you remember him don’t ya Sebber, he puts out a 450 page detailed scouting report on over 700 prospects every year….

              16. I mentioned elite players like Joe Montana.
                .
                Chavous did have a good career, but I would not call him elite. Maybe I should have said that elite players GENERALLY do not make good scouts and coaches.
                .
                Yes, he seems to have found his niche, and I commend him for that.
                .
                Glad you admit Kaep is elite. ;p

      2. Dude, why do you attack the mans intellect? You may not agree with him but his opinions weren’t way off base. Did you listen to Maiocco’s podcast with him? Dumervil has been investing in real estate for years and has 600 units of multi family property. If he’s made decent decisions on those units then he’s cash flowing anywhere from $100k-200k per month. Perhaps he’s a better thinker than you.

        1. Yea, I did some background into Elvis and the last impression I got was a lack of wisdom. On the contrary, he seems very wise to me….

        2. I’m sure he’s very smart. He doesn’t seem to be a good scout, though. I’ll amend my previous comment.

          1. Seems pretty good to me. He was studying players tape in college.

            Part of Elvis’ “passion for pass-rushing” includes studying tape of the masters, such as Freeney and Jevon Kearse. But his first favorite was Derrick Thomas, whose sacking exploits for the Kansas City Chiefs before his death in 2000 inspired Dumervil to wear No. 58.

            “He just destroyed people,” Dumervil said.

            The tape work is all part of the player’s daily routine.

            “After practice, I’ll go home, eat and study [for classes],” he said. “Then I watch film to get the edge. Coach Petrino talks about visualizing. I like to visualize.”

            Sorry, but when it comes to scouting defensive lineman, I’m going to take Dumervil’s experience and intellect over yours. Furthermore, the fact that when the 49ers were looking to instill a winning culture, work ethic and tutor, Elvis was one of the first to enter the building….

  4. I don’t think I have ever seen a player that was a starter at his position the previous season actively trying to recruit another player that could take his starting role away from him, but that is exactly what Colbert is doing.

    1. Yea, I never bought into the Colbert hype. I think he could be a decent backup and very good special teams player. Maybe Thomas can help him develop his safety game but who knows….

          2. My Thanks-bine. Right there with Fr-easter (opening of free agent signing period)…

  6. Thomas enrolled his kids into a Texas school last week. That doesn’t make me feel good about my auto signing this offseason.
    ?

    1. Not necessarily. In Austin he’s over 3 hours away by car from Dallas. So doubtful he makes that commute everyday, but probably on weekends. Texas does not have a state income tax so by being “domiciled” in TX, his total state income taxes that he pays to all states will be lower than they would be if he was domiciled in CA. WA state also has no state income taxes, so he is used to being domiciled in a no income tax state. Then, of course, there is the fact that he is from the state of Texas.

      1. Exactly cubus. Pro athletes realize huge tax savings if they can show they are domiciled in a non-income tax state. I would say more than anything else this move indicates there is no way in the world Earl Thomas is going to reconcile with the Seahawks.

  7. Jaylon Ferguson has his combine invitation rescinded. Seems he got into a fight his freshman year and got convicted of assault and battery.

  10. Grant, you’re not getting yourself all worked up about the reports that the Patriots are likely to keep Flowers over the Great Trent Brown are you?

    1. Grant is so arrogant that he will say the patriots know nothing about football. You like any sane person will question it, and Then his butt buddy jack hammer will say ya grant “patriots know a lot about football they once drafted ras I dowling at the top of the second round.” Grant is the lucky man in America that gets paid for not doing his job. Obviously this comment will be deleted because grant is a butt hurt individual with false pride, but let’s be honest, how much time does this man actually put into writing his articles? Instead he poses blog questions and then leaches off of other people’s reporting.

      1. The Patriots are a revolving door of castoffs. They don’t pay players. If they let Trent Brown hit the market, the 49ers should sign him.

        1. Yes grant because players who typically have success in New England have success elsewhere? Look at Nate soldier… the giants are ecstatic that they paid him as if he’s Anthony munoz. Trent brown was a product of donte scanrechia and Tom Brady releasing the ball in less than 2 seconds. Don’t give me the von Miller crap. You were just arrogant enough to essentially say you know more football thanElvis dumervil. Other then agreeing with you, what gives miller credibility to know the best tackles in the nfl.

          1. Scarnecchia blocked Nick Bosa’s more-talented older brother and made him quit? Oh wait, that was Brown.

            1. Go watch the sound fx. Joey bosa keeps getting close to Brady and he releases the ball before he gets there. Joey even says, “Tom stop releasing it so fast.” If you watch the film of that game you know that Joey bosa plays in all positions of the chargers line. They move him around so there’s no way brown could have made him “quit”. Besides the one year he retired, we have seen a consistent track record from scarnecchia to make the most of less talented lines. You are reaching so hard to hate grant. Why don’t you let research dictate your opinions rather than trying to justify your dug in hot takes. I think every person in this blog will attest to the fact that you consistently put down credible research that doesn’t give evidence to your garbage claims.

              Also let’s not discuss the fact that the patriots run game was excellent against the chargers. A good run game slows down the pass rush. Their run game was not a product of running behind terrible run blocker Trent brown… it was actually because the chargers were trying to have speed on the field so they played with 7 dBs.

              1. The Patriots’ game-winning rushing touchdowns in the AFC Championship and in the Super Bowl were directly behind Brown. But, I’m sure you knew that.

                Joey Bosa had zero tackles, zero quarterback hits and zero sacks against the Patriots in the playoffs. He was a total non-factor against the run and pass. Brown eviscerated him. But, I’m sure you knew that.

              2. Grant you continue to miss the point. Brown is not Anthony Munoz. He did not shut down Bosa by himself. Tom Brady releasing the ball quickly and the whole offensive line playing well played a big role. You have not addressed any of my points regarding Scarnecchia and the success of their line as a whole. Grant a couple of isolated runs behind Brown do not mean that he is some superstar. You continuously harp on these tangents when you have no evidence to back it up. Brown had a good season for the patriots, but to say that he is not a product of the system as well as Brady is utterly ridiculous. It is even more ridiculous to say that he shut down Joey Bosa.

                If you to really prove your point Grant, compare the number of pressures allowed between Brown and the other left tackles that have played with Brady. Compare the efficiency of New England’s offense with Brown in comparison to other left tackles. While those statistics would still have their drawbacks, at least you would have qualitative data to show that you formed a reasonable conclusion. A real reporter, someone with real credibility would be able to write an article like that. You are just a hot take artist that is getting a reaction out of an old retired man like me who is just bored.

              3. Not that Grant cannot defend himself, but you are way off.
                .
                Brown, according to KS and many Niner fans, was not a scheme fit. He was over weight, could not run block, and was inferior to McGlinchey who made him expendable. He was lazy and refused to study. He refused to play injured, and quit on the team. They basically threw him away, and got to move up in the draft 45 spots by swapping picks. Niners, if they had been shrewd, should have gotten a second round pick for him.
                .
                BB took that castoff, and put him in the most important position on the O line. He allowed Brady to be essentially untouched the whole playoffs. Rams finally got a sack, but the dominance was pronounced. Brown not only protected the blind side, he helped the Patriots average 160 yards on the ground. Belichick knew how to properly use Brown, and put him in the best position to succeed.
                .
                Brady was knocked down in past SBs, and was sacked many times. In the Chargers game, it was over before the second half. Mebane did well, but Bosa and Ingram were non factors.
                .
                Chargers used 7 DBs? Sure sounds like Belichick shaped them. No wonder they ran for 155 yards.

              5. No problemo, but now I need to disagree with you, so others will not accuse me of being a toadie. ;p
                .
                I think Coleman is a better player than Gilliam.

  11. I just wanted to make another comment regarding Solomon Thomas. Obviously I like many other niner fans am very disappointed in his progress. At the same time the man suffered great tragedy this last summer. Let’s not act like those things don’t weigh on the minds of individuals in all aspects of their lives. People like grant who dig in on a “hot take” draft position early aren’t smart or empathetic enough to see the facts. Also I t totally agree with what razor said. Generally players in the nfl like Solomon who are extremely talented and are people with their head screwed on straight need proper coaching to nurture them. I think coaching is really underrated in this case. Draft “busts” like solly usually don’t perform to expectations due to lack of nurturing or consistent opportunities. We’ve seen players grow and change through circumstances. Nmadi asamugha was a great corner with the raiders in that system. Dana stubblefield playing next to Bryant young for the niners. These are just a couple of many examples

  12. A tweet from Grant…

    “Go back and watch Trent Brown eviscerate Joey Bosa in the playoffs and get back to me.”

    1. Bosa was AMAZING. He actually got an assist.
      .
      Bosa is 6′ 5″, 280 lbs, and he simply disappeared during the game.

    3. So Trent Brown is the reason Tom Brady won his 6th Super Bowl and went to his 9th Super Bowl appearance LMFAO!!!!

      Let’s see if Trent Brown gets overpaid by another team because we all know the Patriots won’t overpay players so when Trent Brown goes to a team like the Bengals or Raiders let’s just say he does they better be in the Super Bowl right Grant?

      1. Trent Brown’s strong performance helped Brady and the Patriots win their 6th SB. He was not the sole reason they won.
        .
        Bet Tom Brady wants Trent Brown back to protect his blind side. I expect Trent Brown will accept less in order to have the chance to win another ring. He is smart, and knows how it feels to win 2 games in a season.
        .
        Belichick will let Trey Flowers go before he lets Trent Brown go.

        1. No your as delusional as it gets lmao!!!! So how did Tom Brady win the other 5 Super Bowls??? Trent Brown was along for the ride just like any other ex Patriot when they leave your a fool for believing otherwise lol

          1. Watch the movie- The Blind Side. Left tackle is kinda important.
            .
            Brady has also lost 3 SBs, because the LT did not protect him enough.

              1. Sounds like Brady had time to throw and adequate protection, but Brady certainly was not untouched like these last playoff games showed.
                .
                Do not know why you cannot concede that Brown did a good job, in all 3 games. He not only pass protected well, he helped in the run game.

    1. I couldn’t agree more. Armstead is underrated and only getting better. People forget he came out of Oregon early and he’s still very young.
      Maybe the price tag for the 5th year is a bit high, but if they need another year to evaluate or just to get an extension done, so be it.

      1. Bebsie,
        I advocated for Armstead before the draft. I was beginning to think I might be wrong about him,but he really showed improvement last season. I hope his improvement continues.

    2. I agree Armstead should be kept. Imagine: Armstead at the big DE position, to be shuffled down to DT in passing situations with either Frank Clark or Trey Flowers moving over from LEO to the big DE. Then having Josh Allen as the SAM in base, but moving to LEO during passing situations.

      So, the base D would be Armstead, Buckner, DJ Jones, and Clark/Flowers on the line, and Warner/Jordan Hicks/Josh Allen at Will, Mike, and Sam.

      Passing D would be Clark/Flowers, Armstead, Buckner, Allen on the line, and Warner/Hicks as Nickel linebackers.

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