49ers Sign Veteran TE Logan Thomas to One-Year Contract

The San Francisco 49ers have signed veteran tight end Logan Thomas to a one-year contract. Thomas, who turns 33 on July 1, gives the Niners a veteran tight end option behind George Kittle after losing Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley to the Atlanta Falcons in NFL free agency.

San Francisco 49ers tight end Logan Thomas played four seasons with the Washington Commanders

Thomas was selected 120th overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft out of Virginia Tech.

In addition to playing for the Cardinals in the 2014 season, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end has played for the Miami Dolphins (2015), Buffalo Bills (2016-2018), Detroit Lions (2019), and Washington Commanders (2020-2023).

Through 94 career games (57 starts) across eight seasons, Thomas has amassed 219 receptions, 2,002 receiving yards, 16 touchdowns, and 97 first downs.

The 49ers signed TE Logan Thomas. Last season he was flexed out wide 144 times, 3rd amongst all TEs.

His 94 receptions over the last two seasons are ranked #15 among all TEs

Logan Thomas, in my opinion, is a great addition to the 49ers. He has excellent hands and will be the… pic.twitter.com/GsqBfZ5JjH

— Kevin Krueger (@kevinkruegs) June 4, 2024

In 2023, Thomas had 55 catches for 496 yards and four touchdowns to bring his four-year totals for the team to 184 receptions for 1,685 yards and 14 scores.

Thomas compiled career highs of 72 receptions, 670 receiving yards, six touchdowns, and 36 first downs in 16 games (15 starts) of 2022. His receiving yards per game (41.9) and yards after catch (288) were career bests as well.

Washington released Thomas on March 1 in order to free up salary cap space.

San Francisco drafted tight ends Brayden Willis and Cameron Latu in 2023. However, neither player recorded a catch as a rookie, and Latu spent the season on injured reserve.

Thomas will compete for a backup spot

Along with Willis and Latu, the Niners have rookie Mason Pline and veterans Eric Saubert and Jake Tonges to compete for backup spots behind Kittle on the tight end depth chart.

Kittle is still recovering from offseason core muscle surgery that has kept him out of the team's offseason program. Because the five-time Pro Bowler is one of the 49ers' most dominant offensive weapons, the organization has been working to find another veteran tight end to help complement his play.

To prevent injuries during games, taking plays off could be in Kittle's best interest.

“I think we're always going to be trying to do that and there is some back and forth and give and take with both him and with Kyle and myself in that regard,” tight end coach Brian Fleury said last month.

“And I think it'll constantly be evolving. There'll be maybe a time down the road where he needs to take more plays off in order to be the best version of himself. If that's going to be this year or not, I don't know. I can't say.”

Barring a major injury, Thomas could be the one to fill that role with the 49ers next season.