The San Francisco 49ers have already had an interesting start to free agency, starting to reshape the roster with a series of moves in hopes of avoiding another failed campaign.
This team still has the foundation of a true Super Bowl contender, having won the NFC in two of the last five years. Nonetheless, there are obvious holes that need to be addressed and general manager John Lynch is hard at work to find solutions.
After losing Pro Bowl safety Talanoa Hufanga to the Denver Broncos, the 49ers quickly replaced him on the second day of free agency.
49ers Quickly Sign S Talanoa Hufanga Replacement in Free Agency's 2nd Day
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, San Francisco agreed to a one-year contract with former Atlanta Falcons safety Richie Grant. Originally a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Grant spent the first four years of his career with Atlanta, though he apparently didn't factor into the organization's future plans.
After starting 17 games in 2022 and 15 games in 2023, Grant had just one start last season despite appearing in all 17 contests. He played merely 15% of the defensive snaps, carrying a mere 37.7 grade at Pro Football Focus.
That said, he's only 27 years old and has two campaigns with over 100 tackles under his belt. Grant may have just needed a change of scenery and perhaps with a better defensive supporting cast, his production will return to its previous levels. At the least, the one-year deal gives the 49ers some insurance in case Grant's best days are already behind him.
It's difficult to replace a player of Hufanga's caliber. Grant shouldn't be expected to produce at the same level, yet hopefully he can be a servicable starter at a key position. San Francisco's defense struggled relative to expectations in 2024 and figuring out how to improve the unit is among the organization's biggest offseason priorities.
Grant will get his opportunity. Hopefully, he can deliver and earn a longer extension after the year.