A former Super Bowl MVP is remaining with the San Francisco 49ers.
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Friday morning that linebacker Malcolm Smith restructured his contract and will remain with the Niners, per a source informed of the situation.
Terms of the restructure were not yet reported. Smith was set to make $3.75 million in base salary with a $5.418 million cap hit. The 49ers could have saved just $1.2 million by cutting the linebacker with three years remaining on his contract, generating a dead money hit of $4.2 million.
The Super Bowl XLVIII MVP signed in San Francisco in 2017 but missed his entire first season with a torn pectoral. In 12 games in 2018, Smith compiled 35 tackles and one pass defended.
Early in the offseason process, hanging onto Smith makes sense for the Niners. The veteran linebacker could compete for either the weakside or strongside linebacker positions next to second-year stud Fred Warner.
San Francisco general manager John Lynch has upgrades to make at every level of his defense this offseason. Hanging onto Smith will help with depth at the very least.
Here's other NFL transactions we're monitoring Friday:
- NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the Oakland Raiders and special teamer Erik Harris have agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth up to $6.5 million with $2.5 million guaranteed.
- The Arizona Cardinals have parted ways with quarterback Mike Glennon and safety Antoine Bethea, Rapoport reported. The Cardinals were Glennon's third team in as many seasons, while Bethea started all 16 games and totaled 121 tackles last season for the Cards. The team confirmed the releases.
Arizona also announced it has re-signed running back D.J. Foster to a one-year contract and extended tender offers to three free agents: tight end Ricky Seals-Jones, tight end Darrell Daniels and offensive lineman Jeremy Vujnovich.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars cut defensive tackle Malik Jackson, running back Carlos Hyde, safety Tashaun Gipson, right tackle Jermey Parnell and long snapper Carson Tinker.
- The Dallas Cowboys signed defensive tackle Daniel Ross to a one-year deal, Rapoport reported, per a source. The 26-year-old was an exclusive rights free agent to be. In two seasons in Dallas, Ross has played in 16 games and recorded two sacks.
Dallas also exercised the options on wide receiver Allen Hurns, center Joe Looney and linebacker Joe Thomas.
- The New York Giants re-signed offensive lineman Jon Halapio to a one-year deal, the team announced. Halapio was slated to be an exclusive rights free agent. The starting center missed all but two games last year with a broken ankle.
- The Seattle Seahawks are re-signing defensive back Akeem King to a one-year, $1.4 million deal that includes a $400K signing bonus, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported, per a source. The contract is worth up to $2.05 million with incentives.
- The Cleveland Browns tendered restricted free agent Rashard Higgins and exclusive rights free agents defensive tackle Trevon Coley and defensive back Jermaine Whitehead on Friday. Pelissero reported, per a source, that Higgins will earn $2.025 million on an original-round tender. It would take a fifth-round pick for a team to sign Higgins away.
- The Miami Dolphins released receiver Danny Amendola on Friday, Rapoport reported per a source. He was the team's leader in receptions (59) and receiving yards (575).
- The Los Angeles Rams officially released linebacker Mark Barron on Friday. The move was reported to be impending earlier in the week.
- The Detroit Lions announced that they have released guard T.J. Lang after two seasons.
- The Denver Broncos and offensive tackle Billy Turner, who started 11 games in 2018, have broken off talks of an extension, Rapoport reported, so Turner will hit the free-agency market and the Broncos will seek a new right tackle.
