Did 49ers hint at new starter with fully guaranteed contract for free agent DB?
It has been a quiet free agency period for the San Francisco 49ers, defined more by exits of well-known players than any substantial signing.
One interesting player the 49ers did bring in is 25-year-old defensive back Jason Pinnock. The do-everything New York Jets fifth-round draft pick signed a one-year contract worth $2.2 million fully guaranteed according to Over the Cap.
That contract would seem to give an indication that he's a frontrunner for a starting job in the secondary. The 49ers have an opening at cornerback and another one at safety, and Pinnock has NFL experience at both positions. San Francisco listed him as a cornerback when they announced his signing, but he has primarily played safety as a pro.
While a fully guaranteed $2.2 million deal is nice for the veteran DB, it doesn't necessarily give us any clues about his standing on the roster heading into the offseason program. He could conceivably snag a starting job, but there will be competition with at least Ji'Ayir Brown and fellow free-agent addition Richie Grant at safety. If they intend on moving him to cornerback, it would be his first time primarily playing CB in the NFL. That won't give him any kind of inside track if he struggles and $2.2 million isn't enough money to write Pinnock's name on the roster in pen.
Just three offseasons ago the 49ers gave quarterback Nate Sudfeld $2 million fully guaranteed to presumably be QB Trey Lance's backup. Sudfeld wound up losing his roster spot to QB Brock Purdy, who was a rookie and the final pick in that year's draft.
Don't read too much into Pinnock's fully-guaranteed contract. The 49ers need to find capable players in the secondary no matter where they come from. Pinnock certainly has a chance to make the roster, but his $2.2 million guaranteed doesn't make him a shoo-in.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL free agency: 49ers give DB Jason Pinnock fully-guaranteed contract
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