Stanford wide receiver Chris Owusu will sign with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent, his agent confirmed tonight.
Projected as at least a mid-round pick before his senior season, Owusu went undrafted due to concerns about his injury history. He had three concussions in a 13-month span during the latter part of his college career. Owusu had two concussions in three weeks during his senior season and missed Stanford’s final four games.
At the NFL combine, Owusu’s 40-yard dash time (4.36 seconds) matched the fastest by a wide receiver. His broad jump (10 feet, 9 inches) ranked second among wideouts, and his vertical jump (40.5 inches) was third.
Limited to 10 starts in his final two seasons, Owusu had 60 catches for 772 yards and five touchdowns as a junior and senior. He could also have value as a returner. As a sophomore, he tied a record in what was then the Pac-10 by returning three kickoffs for touchdowns. He had six kickoff returns of 50-plus yards in his career.
* Stanford defensive lineman Matt Masifilo just stopped by the media trailer after signing with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent. Masifilo said Stanford safety Michael Thomas will also sign with the team and reunite with Jim Harbaugh.
Masifilo became the first undrafted rookie to sign a free-agent contract, driving over to Santa Clara from Palo Alto.
“Coach Harbaugh likes to cut drag,” Masifilo said. “He said it’s a competition to get down here as fast you can.”
Masifilo beat Owusu to the 49ers headquarters. Owusu is at home in Southern California.
“That’s probably … the last race I’ll ever beat Chris in,” the 6-3, 300-pound Masifilo said.
The Washington Redskins have reportedly signed Hawaii nose tackle Vaughn Meatoga, according to Hawaiinewsnow.com. He was left undrafted, but has the size and tenacity to compete for playing time at the most important position on theRedskins' 3-4 defense.
Meatoga is a studious lineman who possesses tremendous balance and leverage. He uses his hands well and is aggressive enough to hold up at the point of attack and violently shed blockers.
At only 294 pounds, he is maybe a little too small for the modern prototype NFL nose tackle position. However, his ability to be active inside and use his initial quickness to shift along the line and create pressure, can be assets to the Redskins.
Some 3-4 schemes have benefited from a smaller player on the nose, and in some ways Meatoga can be compared to former NFL pro Jason Ferguson. Drafted in the seventh round of the 1997 draft by Bill Parcells, Ferguson enjoyed a highly productive career anchoring 3-4 defenses for the New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins.
Meatoga joins cornerback Chase Minnifield as the second marquee rookie free agent signed by the Redskins. Both additions are smart moves, adding depth and potential at key positions.
Meatoga will be given the opportunity to compete with 2011 seventh-rounder Chris Neild for playing time in a rotation with veteran Barry Cofield.
Former Oregon receiver Lavasier Tuinei has come to terms on a free agent deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Ducks leading receiver in 2011 was named Rose Bowl Offensive Player of the Game with career-highs with eight catches and 158 yards as well as two touchdowns against Wisconsin.
According to the Seahawks website,they have also signed Washington WR Jermaine Kearse.
(A look at Oregon wide receiver Lavasier Tuinei before the Washington game. Nicole Abeyta reports.)
With their fifth-round selection, the Cards took Washington G/T Senio Kelemete (6-4, 307), who played his final two seasons with the Huskies at LT but is viewed by scouts as a better fit at G. The Cards are set for starters at RG and LG with Daryn Colledgeand Adam Snyder, but Kelemete provides depth after the Cards lost Deuce Lutui to the Seahawks in free agency and released last year's RG starter, Rex Hadnot.
Kelemete is the ideal size for an offensive guard at 6'4" and between 305-310 pounds. He also has good hands and feet and a powerful lower half. Fires off the ball quickly. Has a mean streak befitting a former defensive player, and he will be a solid run-blocker. Beefy enough to handle inside pass rush and can help his tackle with defensive ends rushing inside shoulder.
He needs more experience and needs to work on his technique. He sometimes plays too upright and appears off-balance when he stands up to pass block. Lacks elite footwork or size needed to play offensive tackle in the NFL.
Kelemete is inexperienced at offensive guard and has only been playing on the offensive line since 2009, so he may be a bit too raw to step into a starting role in his rookie season.
Given a couple years of coaching and game experience, Kelemete should be a solid offensive guard in the NFL for many years to come.
On paper, this seems like a prudent pick for the Cardinals. The ball can't get to Larry Fitzgerald unless the QB is protected, and Kelemete could evolve into a starter in that role.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Washington defensive tackle Alameda Ta'Amu in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
The Steelers moved up 10 spots to grab Ta'Amu, exchanging fourth-round picks with the Washington Redskins while also giving the Redskins a sixth-round choice.
The 6-foot-3, 348-pound Ta-Amu gives Pittsburgh needed depth at nose tackle. Longtime backup Chris Hoke retired in January and veteran Casey Hampton is recovering from knee surgery.
Ta'Amu had 30 tackles and four sacks during his senior year with the Huskies and was an honorable mention All Pac-12 selection.
The need wasn’t immediate, but that didn’t stop the Carolina Panthers.
They just selected Midwestern State offensive lineman Amini Silatolu in the second round (40th overall).
This one comes as a bit of a surprise. Most of Carolina’s remaining needs are on defense and their offensive line is in pretty good shape.
Silatolu played left tackle in college, but projects as an NFL guard. The Panthers appear to be set there with Geoff Hangartner and Mike Pollak as the likely starters and Byron Bellproviding some depth. But this pick wasn’t about immediate need.
Silatolu is a guy with huge upside, but he likely will need a little time to develop. He’ll get that time with Hangartner and Pollak ahead of him. But the Panthers want to protect quarterback Cam Newton for the long term. Pollak was signed only to a one-year contract and Hangartner isn’t much better than average. The Panthers obviously are hoping Silatolu can be better than average in a year or two.
It also is possible the Panthers could view Silatolu as a tackle. There is some uncertainty at right tackle because of Jeff Otah's injury problems. But the Panthers already have some depth there with Garry Williams and Bell.
