After a Friday flirtation with the Redskins, free-agent offensive tackle Barry Sims has decided to stay with the 49ers. Sims has agreed to terms on a one-year deal that, if all the incentives are met, would be worth $2.1 million. Sims, 35, was an afterthought when the 2009 offseason began, but he became a critical contributor when Joe Staley went down with a knee injury on the first play of the game in Indianapolis. Sims stepped in and started the remaining seven games at left tackle, playing well in those contests.
Sims' signing became more imperative when Tony Pashos, another free-agent tackle, signed with the Browns this offseason. Sims is capable of backing up both right and left tackle, although he is more comfortable on the left side. The 49ers are expected to address their need for a back-up starting right tackle in the draft. Sims visited Washington last week. He also had received interest from Seattle.
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Starting WR Josh Morgan was drafted in the sixth round. I raise that fact because the 49ers today were awarded an extra sixth-round pick in the draft. The team was expecting a late-round compensatory pick but figured it would be a seventh rounder. The pick is the 206th overall, according to the 49ers.
The formula for calculating compensatory picks is a closely guarded secret, but it is based on the number of free agents signed vs. the number lost the previous offseason. The team said goodbye to five free agents in 2009, NT Ronald Fields, WR Bryant Johnson, QB J.T. O'Sullivan, CB Donald Strickland and TE Billy Bajema. They signed WR Brandon Jones, DE Demetric Evans, FB Moran Norris and LB Marques Harris.
So far in free agency, the 49ers have lost Pashos, WR Arnaz Battle and CB Marcus Hudson. They have signed QB David Carr and CB Karl Paymah.
-- Matt Barrows
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