Two decisions made by the 49ers will mostly impact their special teams. The organization announced that wide receiver Chris Conley has re-signed for a one-year contract. Furthermore, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, cornerback Chase Lucas has signed a one-year contract.
Conley joined San Francisco in the summer with the intention of providing the team with a complementing passing option and maybe special teams help. In several of his prior stops, the 31-year-old has not been a mainstay when it came to third phase duties.
In 2023, Conley’s workload was mostly focused on drawing eight targets in total throughout both regular and postseason action.
With the 49ers, the former third-round selection saw his greatest-ever snap share of 36% on special teams. Conley had two tackles in the Super Bowl as a gunner, among his other accomplishments in that area, and it is reasonable to anticipate that he will play the same position in 2024.
In the passing game, he might also offer a vertical threat to the reliable starting trio of wide receivers, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and Jayan Jennings.
In 2022, Lucas was drafted by the Lions to join the league. In his eighteen games with Detroit, he did not play a defensive snap, but he emerged as a vital special team player last season in particular.
In terms of third phase playing time, the 27-year-old had a 72% snap share, but that wasn’t enough to earn him an ERFA tender. Lucas, who is free to sign with any team, has decided to go to the Bay Area in 2024.
The Lions granted a two-year agreement to linebacker and recent NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin, which includes record-breaking pay for a special teams standout.
Given the significant expenditures expended to keep him, it is not surprising that Detroit was willing to let Lucas to leave.
In the event that the latter is unable to provide depth in the 49ers’ secondary, he will likely continue to be a vital member of San Francisco’s special teams unit.
