INDIANAPOLIS – Before the start of the new league year next Thursday, the 49ers hope to make some deals with some of their own scheduled free agents.
The 49ers have 18 players scheduled for unrestricted free agency, including quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is expected to opt out of his contract. While the 49ers are expected to take things slow with Kaepernick, general manager John Lynch said there is some urgency to get other deals completed.
“Some of those are in the process of going on right now,” Lynch said. “Hopefully, we see some things in the next couple of days.”
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Among the 49ers’ top scheduled free agents are kicker Phil Dawson, and wide receivers Jeremy Kerley and Quinton Patton.
The 49ers have already invested more in veteran free agents than a year ago. The 49ers last week signed defensive tackle Earl Mitchell to a four-year, $16 million contract. Mitchell became available when the Miami Dolphins recently released him.
The start of the free-agent signing period under former 49ers general manager Trent Baalke was usually a slow time for the franchise. Lynch promised a more-aggressive approach when nearly $90 million in cap room.
“Stay awake,” Lynch said.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers want to fill needs in free agency, so the organization can avoid the shackles of drafting for need.
“We need players and we’ve got to get ourselves in a situation with certain pieces that we made priorities and certain type of guys so we don’t go into this draft saying, ‘We have to have this,’” Lynch said.
“It’s the best way to go in and take the best player, but sometimes you can’t do that. You need certain positions and we don’t want to be in that position everywhere. So there are certain things we have high on our priority list and get accomplished. And we’re going to be aggressive in getting those done.”
49ERS FREE AGENTS
Unrestricted
--QB Colin Kaepernick*
--QB Blaine Gabbert
--QB Christian Ponder
--QB Thad Lewis
--RB Shaun Draughn
--RB DuJuan Harris
--WR Jeremy Kerley
--WR Quinton Patton
--WR Rod Streater
--TE Jim Dray
--OL Andrew Gardner
--K Phil Dawson
--DT Glenn Dorsey
--DT Tony Jerod-Eddie
--DL Chris Jones
--LB Nick Bellore
--LB Gerald Hodges
--LB Michael Wilhoite
Restricted
--OL Andrew Tiller
--DB Marcus Cromartie
--CB Chris Davis
Exclusive rights
--DL Mike Purcell (tendered)
--LB Carl Bradford (tendered)
*-Expected to opt out of contract.