The 49ers re-sign Jake Brendel as they aim for the required continuity at center

A league source confirmed that the 49ers have re-signed center Jake Brendle to a four-year deal worth up to $20 million. the athlete. The contract includes $8 million guaranteed. Brendel was ranked No. 111 in the the athleteList of Top 150 Free Proxies.

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How it fits: Kyle Shanahan’s offense requires efficient play from the center position because he is responsible for the contact process up front. Shanahan also requires his centers to make challenging blocks in space to support the team’s area management scheme. Brendel has proven that he can pull off the necessary duties as a starting center in 2022, and now the 49ers are destined to enjoy continuity in this important position of the offensive midfield.

Impact 2023: Consider the significant level of investment the 49ers have put into the center position since Shanahan’s arrival. They handed Weston Richburg a $47.5 million deal in 2018 and signed longtime stalwart Alex Mack in 2021. Those two players retired before their contracts were finished — and the 49ers faced particularly acute problems at the position in 2020 when Richburg was unavailable due to an injury. They managed to avoid similar problems in 2022 after Brindel successfully took over from Mack’s departure.

That’s all to say the Brendel effect has to be one of providing the stability Shanahan’s offense has struggled to achieve whenever there has been no game at center.

date: Brendel, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2016, was given the chance to start playing with the 49ers in 2022. His connection to the franchise came courtesy of 49ers offensive line coach Chris Foerster, who coached Brendel early in his career. in Miami.

Over the years, Brendel has evolved from an exceptionally athletic but light prospect into a solidly capable center to hold against the rushing bulls. Brendel conclusively proved that last season, he ranked third in pass-blocking efficiency among centers on Pro Football Focus.

“It’s been an uphill battle, from my lack of form to some injuries early in my career,” Brendel said after the 2022 49ers season ended. “These things are from the past. I honestly feel like my career is just getting started.”

cover update: Brendel’s deal is worth $5 million a year, which is roughly equal to the contract Mack signed with the team in 2021. The contract structure isn’t available yet, but the 49ers likely did some back-loading with this one.

After cornerback Charvarius Ward’s contract was restructured to free up about $10 million in salary cap room for 2023 Tuesday morning, the 49ers had room for about $3 million. Brendel’s contract has to max out, so the 49ers may have to do a little more financial gymnastics to be compatible with the Wednesday start of the new league year.

prospects: The 49ers made a great splash on the defensive side of the ball to open up the pointless period on Monday. Re-signing Brendel is a needed investment in the offense. But more work still needs to be done upfront. The 49ers should be interested in acquiring talent capable of competing with Colton McKivitz at right tackle. The O-line also still needs more depth, so a re-signing of Daniel Brunskill also looks likely.

But creating continuity at the center was the most pressing issue at the outset, and the 49ers addressed it by retaining Brindle.

(Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)