Blocking tight end will be called upon to help coach up 49ers in new system.

By James Jones | @9ernewswriter | Mar 14, 2017, 1:20pm PDT

The San Francisco 49ers are in the midst of a first week in free agency that has exceeded anything former GM Trent Baalke did in the previous five-years. His lack of activity over that time had left the team with a dearth of talent at almost every position. It also provided the new regime with over $100 million in cap space as the new league year began.

As such new GM John Lynch has been a very busy man after telling the fan base to essentially not go to sleep as the free agent period began last Thursday, One of the moves that Lynch made was to bring in a player who some have called “one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL”.

Logan Paulsen was signed to a one-year deal and will mostly provide what he did after he was an undrafted free agent signing by the Washington Redskins. A player who will be asked to not only use his blocking skills in new head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, but also to help in teaching the rest of the 49ers roster the nuances of the scheme.

Contract details recently emerged on Paulsen’s contract with the 49ers. It’s a low cost deal for a player who not only knows he will be asked to fill a specific role, but should have no issues doing so.

Signing bonus: $125,000
Base: $775,000
Roster bonus: $100,000
2017 salary cap hit: $1,000,000

Looking down the list of the free agents who the 49ers have signed in the last week, we can see a recurring theme with most of them. Pierre Garcon, Aldrick Robinson, Brian Hoyer, and the aforementioned Paulsen all have time under Shanahan’s coaching tutelage.

None should be considered long term answers at their positions, but all will be integral parts of Shanahan implementing his system as he begins his tenure in San Francisco.Make no mistake, Shanahan and Lynch knew the players they wanted to target this offseason and they have done just that.

Having played four-years under Shanahan in Washington ties Paulsen with receiver Aldrick Robinson for the most experience in this system. He also might be the one best suited to get the rest of the roster up to speed with the new zone-blocking scheme.

Keep in mind that much like when Shanahan was hired to the offensive coordinator in Atlanta he made comments such as, “o-line will major in running outside zone” and “offensive lineman will run more than they ever have”.

Being that the tight end position is often an extension of the offensive line, Paulsen is going to very important to the early understanding and potential success of the new look 49ers

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