SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 22: Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after an interception against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter of the game in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Levi's Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
The 49ers officially announce the signings of 2 free agents
One tight end and a running back
The San Francisco 49ers officially announced the signing of former Green Bay Packers running back Patrick Taylor Jr. on Monday afternoon. He wasn’t the only move the team made. The Niners also signed tight end Eric Saubert to a one-year contract.
Depending on where you look, Saubert is 6’5, listed anywhere between 248 and 253 pounds. The 29-year-old was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of the University of Drake.
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When the 49ers pursued Brock Wright from the Detroit Lions, they were looking for a player with Saubert’s body type. While Saubert is undoubtedly cheaper, he is also four years older and has less production. In his best year as a pass catcher, Saubert finished the season with 15 receptions for 148 yards, a performance that stands out in his career.
Saubert will likely earn playing time as a bigger-bodied blocking tight end in 12 personnel (1 running back, 2 tight ends, and 2 wide receivers) that allows George Kittle to run a route against a linebacker instead of blocking.
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Silver Minings: Raiders get right tackle and quarterback in 5-round mock draft
NFL Media’s Chad Reuter has Las Vegas getting creative to draft a quarterback
We’re about two and half weeks away from the beginning of the 2024 NFL Draft and who the Las Vegas Raiders will draft with the 13th overall pick, or if the Raiders will stay at 13, is a big mystery. Recently, NFL media’s Chad Reuter conducted a five-round mock draft and put together an interesting strategy for Las Vegas to address two of the team’s biggest needs.
Reuter had the Silver and Black staying put in the first round and taking Alabama right tackle JC Latham.
“Latham’s huge frame and power off the snap in the run game belie his ability to slide laterally and widen his base in pass protection, making him a tough ask for defenders to beat with power or speed off the edge,” the analyst wrote. “As you’ll see later in this exercise, I project the Raiders to send fourth- and fifth-round picks to Carolina to move up early in the second round to select Michael Penix Jr., who could be an excellent starter if able to stay healthy.”
As referenced above, Reuter then made a trade at the top of the second round where the Raiders gave up pick 44, a fourth-rounder and a fifth-rounder to select Penix 33rd overall. For comparison, the Tennessee Titans sent over the 41st overall selection, a third-round pick in last year’s draft and a 2024 third-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for No. 33 and a third-rounder a year ago. The Titans used that 33rd pick to take quarterback Will Levis.
The Washington signal-caller has been gaining steam lately, so it’s hard to imagine he’ll still be on the board after the first night of the draft. But if he is, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Las Vegas make a move for Penix.
