Linebacker Larry Grant indeed will sign his restricted free-agent tender today, Grant's agent confirmed this morning. The 49ers gave Grant an original-round tender last month, meaning they would have been compensated with a seventh-round pick - the round in which Grant was drafted in 2008 - if he had signed a deal elsewhere. Grant will become an unrestricted free agent next season.
The market for restricted free agents, however, has been non-existent, including for Grant who did not visit any other teams in free agency. Grant started three games in place of injured starter Patrick Willis at the end of the season, and he played well. Grant (Foothill High) finished with 30 tackles, two sacks and he forced a fumble by Seattle quarterback Tarvaris Jackson at the end of the game in Seattle to snuff out a Seahawks' comeback attempt.
Grant ended up playing 226 snaps on defense (22.3 percent) and also was a major contributor on special teams. He was in on 238 special teams plays last year, more than 50 percent of the total. Grant was the top backup for both Willis and NaVorro Bowman last year, and that presumably will be his role this year as well.
Grant also is the last remaining player from the 49ers' 2008 draft class, although he did not make the squad that year. Instead he went to St. Louis, played three seasons there and was signed as a free agent by the 49ers last year. Another player from that draft class, guard Chilo Rachal, is a free agent who is not expected back.
-- Matt Barrows
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