San Francisco 49ers' unsuccessful free agency move creates new roster need in 2024 NFL Draft

The San Francisco 49ers have been unsuccessful in their bid to add to add depth at the tight end position by signing Brock Wright.

San Francisco signed restricted free agent Wright to an offer sheet last week. Their offer was for $12 million over three years. The Lions had five days to match that offer and on Wednesday they elected to do so, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, keeping around a key part of their run game from the 2023 season.

As Wright was a former undrafted free agent, the 49ers would not have had to give up a draft pick had they signed him.

Instead, the 49ers — who lost blocking tight end Charlie Woerner to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency — may have to consider using a 2024 draft pick on a tight end to fill the void.

The 49ers spent a third-round pick on Cameron Latu last year and used a seventh-rounder on another tight end in Brayden Willis. Latu missed his entire rookie season because of a knee injury after an up and down preseason, while Willis played sparingly and was primarily limited to special teams.

Though they will be hoping Latu can prove why they took him in the third round, the 49ers clearly want to give themselves another option at the backup tight end spot behind George Kittle. 

In that sense, it’s back to the drawing board. And the 49ers' 'Plan B' might involve them investing in a member of a tight end class that is not one of the strengths of the 2024 draft.