Willie Snead resided as a depth player for the 49ers last season. The team will keep the veteran pass catcher around in 2023, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reporting Snead is back on San Francisco’s roster as of Wednesday morning.
The former Saints and Ravens slot receiver agreed to terms on a one-year deal. This reunion agreement comes just after the 49ers added veteran wideout Chris Conley.
San Francisco’s 53-man roster may not have room for both Snead and Conley, considering the team employs Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, 2022 third-round pick Danny Gray and return man Ray-Ray McCloud. But the 49ers will give Snead another opportunity to mix in as an insurance option.
Although Snead has multiple 800-plus-yard receiving seasons on his resume, those came in his first two seasons — back in 2016 and 2017 — in New Orleans. The veteran slot target also totaled 651 receiving yards with the Ravens during their Joe Flacco-to-Lamar Jackson 2018 transition year. Snead, 30, spent three years in Baltimore but has bounced around since. After Snead spent the 2021 season with the Raiders and Panthers, the 49ers signed the former UDFA success story.
Snead played in four 49ers games last season, logging 30 offensive snaps and 38 on special teams. Barring an injury to one of the 49ers’ top weapons, it should be expected Snead will compete for a similar role this year.
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