LSU Tigers general manager Austin Thomas announced today that head coach Brian Kelly is no longer with the team.
Patrick Taylor Jr., a former Green Bay Packers running back, is joining the 49ers on a one-year contract, according to a source, Schefter tweeted. Taylor now becomes a member of the 49ers after facing them in the playoffs. The agreement was verified by Taylor’s agent, @chriscabott of @equitysports.
Taylor Jr., who is about to enter his fourth NFL season, has played in Green Bay for the previous three seasons, most of the time as the backup to Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon.
Taylor is expected to play a similar role for San Francisco, though he may have trouble getting on the roster. Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel usually get the most touches, but Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason are reliable backup options with reasonably priced contracts.
However, considering both Mason and Mitchell are about to approach the last year of their current contracts, it’s possible that this deal will open the door for a move away from either RB.
Meanwhile, the 49ers are working hard to hold onto Brandon Aiyuk in addition to their pursuit of him in free agency. On March 28, Aiyuk discussed the matter on the podcast “The Night Cap.”
“My goal is to be compensated fairly,” Aiyuk stated. “This season, I’ve really come to terms with who I am as a person and a player, realizing the value that I bring to the team, the locker room, and the field.”
It makes sense that Aiyuk would take this attitude considering that he led the 49ers in receiving yards the previous two seasons. But signing big-money contracts for players like Aiyuk frequently comes with its own set of difficulties.
This post was written by Heavy.com sports writer Evan Reier, who covers the 49ers and Cowboys for Dallas. Reier was formerly a managing editor at Outsider and contributed to the Montana Standard’s sports coverage.