49ers bring back two exclusive rights free agents in tackle Austen Pleasants and tight end Jake Tonges.
Tight end Jake Tonges (88) catches a pass for the 49ers in a preseason game in 2024 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
49ers bring back two exclusive rights free agents in tackle Austen Pleasants and tight end Jake Tonges.
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The 49ers signed two exclusive rights free agents Thursday to one-year contracts — tackle Austen Pleasants and tight end Jake Tonges.
The signings were announced on the club’s “X” account.
Pleasants, 27, was signed late last season when it became clear left tackle Trent Williams would not return. He played three games with 67 snaps at left tackle, sharing the position with Charlie Heck.
Other tackles currently on the roster are Williams, right tackle Colton McKivitz, Jalen McKenzie, Sebastian Gutierrez and Isaac Alarcon. With 11 draft picks, the 49ers are expected to take at least one tackle in the NFL Draft April 24-26.
Alarcon received a six-game suspension Wednesday for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing drugs. He is eligible to stay with the team until the season starts and his suspension begins should he make it that far.
Tonges, 25, played in all 16 games for the 49ers, primarily on special teams, where he had 232 snaps and had two tackles. A Cal product who played four games in 2023 with the Chicago Bears, Tongue played 34 snaps on offense but was not targeted with a pass.
Aside from starter George Kittle, tight ends on the 49ers roster are free agent Luke Farrell, Brayden Willis and Mason Pline.
Exclusive rights free agents have three or fewer years of service with negotiating rights retained by the team.