San Francisco 49ers add depth at position of need with veteran signing ahead of 2024 NFL Draft

The San Francisco 49ers last week failed to sign restricted free agent tight end Brock Wright away from the Detroit Lions. Now they have added depth to the position with a free agent signing.

San Francisco announced on Monday that it has signed Eric Saubert to a one-year deal. The 49ers also confirmed the previously reported signing of running back Patrick Taylor.

Saubert was a fifth-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2017. He spent only two seasons with Atlanta and has bounced around the league since.

He played for the Denver Broncos in 2021 and 2022, working with Klint Kubiak, who spent last season as the 49ers passing game coordinator.

Saubert spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans last season, working with two former 49ers offensive assistants, Mike McDaniel and Bobby Slowik, in his time in Miami and Houston. 

While he did not feature in any games for the Dolphins or Cowboys, Saubert featured in nine for the Texans, though he made only three catches for 12 yards.

His signing comes after the 49ers signed Wright to an offer sheet worth $12 million over three years, only to see the Lions match it.

Whereas Wright would likely have been sure of a place as the 49ers' second-string tight end behind George Kittle, Saubert is likely nothing more than additional competition for Cameron Latu and Brayden Willis, who were picked in the third and seventh-round respectively by San Francisco last year. 

From his recent experience with McDaniel and Slowik, Saubert offers familiarity with the Shanahan scheme that could be to his advantage in the battle for places on the 53-man roster and practice squad during training camp in July.

But his signing certainly does not preclude the 49ers from addressing tight end in this month's draft. Eventually the Niners are going to need a long-term successor for Kittle. Saubert is certainly not that, but he at least gives San Francisco more veteran depth at a position where they are very young behind their All-Pro starter.