Sadnews: star player announce is departure after quarrelling with is coach.

It’s common knowledge that the San Francisco 49ers prioritize running backs over teams in the league. That they are offering their star player, Christian McCaffrey, a new, hefty contract is therefore not shocking.

The 49ers revealed that McCaffrey had signed an extension, but they withheld the specifics of the deal. According to claims from league insiders, the $38 million contract has a two-year term. By doing this, McCaffrey will always be the NFL’s highest-paid running back.

McCaffrey’s new contract comes with an average annual salary of $19 million, while the second-highest running back in the league, New Orleans Saints Alvin Kamara, is making $15 million annually. McCaffrey was already the top earner among backs thanks to a four-year, $64 million extension he signed back in 2020 while with the Carolina Panthers.

READ MORE:

49ers include Logan Thomas positions these two tight ends in a risky situation.

At tight end, George Kittle is likely pleased that the 49ers have gained a new partner in crime.

According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the San Francisco 49ers signed former Washington Commanders tight end Logan Thomas as a last-minute surprise before minicamp.

Throughout several offseasons, the Niners have made an effort to solve this position, whether it is by signing free agents from outside the market like Jordan Reed or creating internal answers like Ross Dwelley. An further instance occurred earlier in the offseason when Brock Wright, a restricted free agent, was signed by San Francisco to an offer sheet that was eventually matched by the Detroit Lions.

The most recent to assume the role is Thomas.

Many people are likely to be pleased with this development, including tight end George Kittle, who may finally have some relief from being the team’s best—and sometimes only—receiving tight end, quarterback Brock Purdy, who has added another skillful pass catcher to his nearly Swiss Army knife-like arsenal, and head coach Kyle Shanahan, who is unlikely to be upset about having yet another skilled pass catcher to catch passes.

However, Cameron Latu and Brayden Willis, the 49ers’ 2023 draft selections, are unlikely to be pleased with this development.

Latu, a highly-touted third-round selection out of Alabama, may have already had a fragile hold on a roster place given Shanahan’s pretty scathing remarks about him after the 2024 NFL Draft concluded (he didn’t make the 53-man roster in my post-draft projection on this very site).

Latu has undoubtedly had difficulty contributing; after suffering a torn meniscus in the third preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers, he was placed on injured reserve in August of last year. He wasn’t exactly getting high marks even before that, with several allegations of drops during training camp.

While part of that may be accounted for by challenges acclimating to the professional game, Shanahan’s remarks imply discontent with the options available at the position—possibly with Latu in particular. Latu should have a longer rope than others because he was selected in the third round. However, in the past, the Niners haven’t exactly been afraid to cut underwhelming third-round picks.

Given that he played in seven games the previous season, Willis’ primary roster experience probably helps him. Sadly, he didn’t really stand out, and even though he might be considered for a third tight end place should one become available, his chances of making the squad are diminished by his blocking and special teams efforts.

Thomas will most likely take over as the team’s number two tight end right away, therefore Willis and Latu will probably now compete for the third position on the roster. They’ll be up against undrafted rookie Mason Pline and free-agent signing Eric Saubert, though the latter is more likely destined for the practice squad due to his lack of experience at higher levels of football.

Naturally, that assumes there is a third position available for a tight end. The 49ers may determine that holding onto one of the two young guys who haven’t impressed so far would be a waste of a roster slot that could be utilized elsewhere given the current standoff at other crucial spots like wide receiver and cornerback.

Therefore, even though Thomas’ presence will benefit the majority of the building, there’s no denying that it has put the two youngest players on notice.

Maybe this will give them the push they need to start getting better.

What are your predictions for San Francisco’s tight end play this season?