The 49ers will not tender any of their three restricted free agents, making them available to sign with any team, according to league sources.
The three players who were eligible to become restricted free agents are running back DuJuan Harris, and defensive backs Marcus Cromartie and Chris Davis. The free-agent signing period begins on Thursday. NFL teams may begin negotiating with scheduled free agents on Tuesday at 9 a.m.
The lowest tender for a scheduled restricted free agent to retain that player’s contract rights is a one-year deal worth $1.797 million. That tender provides the team with the right of first refusal if a player signs an offer sheet with another club.
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Harris appeared in 10 games for the 49ers last season with one start. He carried 38 times for 138 yards, while catching eight passes for 115 yards.
Davis opened the season as the 49ers’ nickel back, appearing in four games before sustaining a torn ACL against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 6.
Cromartie appeared in 21 games with the 49ers over the past three seasons with one start.
Although Harris, Cromartie and Davis become, in effect, unrestricted free agents, they will not count for the 49ers in the compensatory formula if they sign with other teams.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers recently extended qualifying offers to nose tackle Mike Purcell and linebacker Carl Bradford as exclusive-rights free agents. Purcell and Bradford have no outside negotiating power.
Click here for the entire list of the 49ers’ free agents and offseason activity.