Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
After a relatively quiet draft for the 49ers, in which they stayed put at every selection, San Francisco was extremely active in the undrafted free agent pool, and hit the jackpot on a few players.
Here’s a list of the undrafted free agents they’ve currently signed.
In particular, offensive linemen Dohnovan West out of Arizona State and Jason Poe out of Mercer, as well as linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel out of North Carolina stood out, given the unlikelihood that they would actually go undrafted.
ASU OL Dohnovan West
West, a 6’3, 300-pound guard/center, was connected to the 49ers from the Combine, where he shared that the organization had expressed interest in him.
West best profiles under a zone-scheme offense, which the 49ers run, making him an ideal fit in San Francisco’s offense, especially with the explosiveness he has at his size.
West likely requires some transition from the collegiate game to the NFL level, but his comfortability in a zone scheme could make him an intriguing candidate to compete to start at the Center position.
Getting a potential Day 1 starter as an undrafted free agent is phenomenal value for the 49ers.
Mercer OL Jason Poe
Poe, a 6’0, 300-pound guard/center, has elite athleticism and explosiveness, earning a 9.45 relative athletic score, which included a 1.75 10-yard split, while also testing exceptionally in the shuttle and 3-cone drills.
Despite his smaller frame, Poe plays with great strength as well, and should be a good system fit with his ability to move in space in a zone-scheme offensive system.
Poe needs refinement in his pass protecting skills, but, as an undrafted free agent, possesses a ton of value for the 49ers.
UNC LB Jeremiah Gemmel
Gemmel is the type of player that the fans should rave about, with a set of intangibles that round out his profile, such as his leadership capabilities and high motor.
Gemmel is a bit undersized at the linebacker position, coming in a 6’0, 226-pounds, but showcases good instinct and closing speed in run support, which is the role he likely plays at the NFL level.
The 49ers are a team known for developing linebackers, which is defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans’s specialty, as they have a good young core including Fred Warner, Azeez Al-Shaair, and Dre Greenlaw.
While Gemmel hasn’t had much experience at the special teams position, he could follow suit of fellow 49er linebackers Demetrius Flanagan-Fowles and Oren Burks, who are both known for their special-teams capabilities in addition to their defensive talent.
If Gemmel were to go to a specific situation to succeed, it would be the 49ers, given his instinctual abilities and their propensity for developing linebackers.
Once again, a draftable player hit the open market, and the 49ers pounced.
The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.
Report it.
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
49ers 2022 Undrafted Free Agent Tracker
With the 2022 NFL Draft now complete, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have shifted their focus to signing undrafted free agents.
Below is a running tally of the undrafted players who the team has either signed or will reportedly sign. The 49ers will eventually make an official announcement of all of their undrafted rookie signings.
Reportedly signing with the 49ers
DT Kevin Atkins, Fresno State
Measurables: 6-3, 305lb
Notes: Recorded 41 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, and seven sacks as a senior in 2021.
Excited to be
Breaking down USC DE Drake Jackson to the 49ers
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Apr 29
The pick is in!
The San Francisco 49ers made their first selection of the 2022 NFL Draft, taking defensive end Drake Jackson out of USC.
The 49ers missed out on a first-round pick this year, as their 2022 first-rounder was involved in the trade up for quarterback Trey Lance last offseason.
Jackson, a three-year starter at USC, had 12.5 career sacks at USC, including a forced fumble and an interception in 2021.
Jackson, who stood at 6’3, 254-pounds at the NFL Combine, has a long reach with 34′ arms, and tested well with a 36.5′ vertical jump and a 127′ broad jump.
Jackson slots in as a pass-rush specialist, using his athleticism and long strides as his main abilities to get to the quarterback.
His fit matches
Breaking down RB Tyrion Davis-Price to the 49ers
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Apr 29
After selecting USC edge rusher Drake Jackson in the second round, the San Francisco 49ers elected to stay put at pick No. 93 and selected LSU running back Tyrion Davis-Price.
With nine picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, there was speculation that the 49ers could trade up from one of their mid-round selections to acquire a player high on their draft board, but that wasn’t the case at pick No. 93.
The 49ers still have another Day 2 selection at pick No. 105, as they were granted a third-round compensatory pick for the departure of minority coach Robert Saleh.
Despite the availability of safeties Nick Cross and Kerby Joseph, as well as multiple interior offensive linemen,
Breaking down SMU WR Danny Gray to the 49ers
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Apr 29
After selecting USC edge rusher Drake Jackson with the 61st pick and LSU running back Tyrion Davis-Price with the 93rd pick, the 49ers finished the second day of the draft by selecting wide receiver Danny Gray out of SMU with the 105th pick.
Following a questionable running back selection at 93, the 49ers filled a need at 105, adding true deep speed to a diverse wide receiver group that includes Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and Ray-Ray McCloud.
Gray, who suffered from below-average quarterback play at SMU, possesses low-4.2s speed, and can line up in the slot or on the
