George

Odum

The former 49ers and Colts special teams star will not make the roster in Houston. Another team could give him a chance, though. He totaled four special teams tackles in three games last year.

Odum, 32, was a standout special teams player for much of his career, earning first-team All-Pro (2020) and second-team All-Pro (2022) with the Colts and 49ers. He sandwiched three seasons in San Francisco between two stints in Indianapolis. If he makes the team, he is unlikely to play on defense.

The veteran safety primarily contributed to special teams but notched 14 tackles, 5 passes defensed, and one interception in 40 games with the 49ers over the previous three seasons. Odum has started only 10 games during his seven-year NFL career, mostly playing as a package player in the secondary in addition to his special teams contributions. He could catch on quickly with another franchise considering his abilities on special teams, highlighted by an All-Pro designation following the 2020 season.

Odum can earn up to $10 million on this new extension per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. A special teams ace who joined the 49ers in 2022, Odum was named as a First-team All-Pro in 2020 with the Colts and received Second-team All-Pro recognition in 2022. Set to play 2024 on the final year of his contract, Odum will now remain under contract with the 49ers through 2026.

Odum rarely sees work on defense but is a special teams ace, logging 196 special teams snaps this year, He has 12 total tackles. Odum will be placed on injured reserve. He could return this season if the 49ers make a deep playoff run.

A 2018 UDFA at the age of 24, Odum forced his way onto the field for all 16 games as a rookie but largely remained a reserve until last season, where he made seven starts. He was a literal All-Pro special teamer in 2020, so the Niners must feel comfortable with Odum’s presence on the roster even if he doesn’t develop further as a defender. He might not since he is already 28 years old.

Odum only played 25 defensive snaps in 2020, but he paced the league in special teams tackles with 20 and was named a first-team All-Pro as a result. He’ll now have to go through concussion protocol. With two weeks until Week 1, his status for the opener is up in the air.

Using the second-round tender on Odum, a special teams ace, was aggressive, but it worked out for Indy. An undrafted free agent, Odum will lead the Colts special teams into 2021. Last year, he led the league with 21 special teams tackles. No one else on the Colts had more than ten.

It’s worth $2.133 million. That is a lot for a special teamer, but Odum is a literal All-Pro special teamer. Although he is already headed into his age-28 campaign, Odum was a 2018 undrafted free agent.