Floyd out on Day 2, Mason tendered

49ERS

49ers defensive end Leonard Floyd (56) plays during a game against the Arizona Cardinals on Jan. 5 in Glendale, Ariz. DARRYL WEBB – AP FILE

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By Cam Inman

Bay Area News Group

SANTA CLARA >> The 49ers’ roster recovery efforts Tuesday included short-term commitments to backups Jordan Mason and Curtis Robinson, plus one-year deals for safety Richie Grant and linebacker Luke Gifford.

But the departures are not done. Defensive end Leonard Floyd was released Tuesday after one season, and he promptly agreed to a raise with the Atlanta Falcons for $10 million this year, NFL Network reported.

The moves came after Monday’s eight-man exodus in which seven landed free-agent deals elsewhere and perennial Pro Bowler Kyle Juszczyk was informed of his release.

Floyd’s departure could clear the way for the free agent addition of Joey Bosa, older brother of 49ers defensive mainstay Nick Bosa. There have been no hints toward that or any other blockbuster signing amid this week’s dismay of departures.

The Minnesota Vikings are expected to swoop up Javon Hargrave once the 49ers release him upon Wednesday’s start of the NFL’s official year. That is when the 49ers also are expected to cut fellow defensive tackle Maliek Collins, and when Deebo Samuel’s trade will go through to Washington for a fifth-round pick.

Half of the Niners’ Super Bowl starters will be gone 13 months after that overtime loss to Kansas City.

General manager John Lynch telegraphed this roster reshuffling two weeks ago at the NFL scouting combine after noting the 49ers’ recent record of high spending. “At some point you have to reset a little bit or at least recalibrate,” he said. “You can’t just keep pressing the pedal and I think there’s some good that could come out. We need to get younger.”

All of Monday’s free agency defections were under 30 — except backup quarterback Josh Dobbs — but all four players released were veterans: Floyd (32), Hargrave (32), Collins (turns 30 next month) and fullback Kyle Juszczyk (turns 34 next month). Samuel will be 30 next January when the Commanders presumably are making a playoff encore.

Floyd was set to make $7.9 million in salary and his release clears $1.5 million in cap space. He proved as durable as advertised, but his 8 1/2 sacks in 17 games last season were his fewest since 2019.

“We were the oldest team in football trying to make a run at the deal last year,” Lynch claimed. “It’s good to constantly get younger. Our draft class last year was a great move towards that.”

Mason, 25, broke out last season in place of an injured Christian McCaffrey, and thus drew a second-round tender of $5.35 million as a restricted free agent. That reserves the 49ers’ right to either match an offer Mason gets elsewhere or receive a second-round draft pick in return for the once-undrafted running back. A multi-year contract could still ensue from the 49ers, as could a trade.

Gifford is a six-year veteran (Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans) who has specialized on special teams, an area that has plagued the 49ers more than ever last season under coach Kyle Shanahan. Gifford shared the NFL lead last season with 10 special teams tackles.

Grant was an Atlanta Falcons safety the past four seasons. He is 27, as is tight end Luke Farrell, who agreed Monday to a three-year, $20 million deal. Grant’s contract is a modest one-year, $1.5 million deal, NFL Network reported.

Grant started 33 of the 67 games he played, producing three interceptions and four forced fumbles while also being a special teams stalwart. Grant was a 2022-23 starter before playing just 15 percent of the defensive snaps last season and was 166th of 170 safeties by ProFootballFocus.com.

Grant was a second-round pick in the 2021 draft, selected 140 spots before the 49ers took safety Talanoa Hufanga in the fifth round. Hufanga agreed Monday to a deal (three years, $45 million) with the Denver Broncos, who also lured linebacker “Big Play Dre” Greenlaw from the 49ers (three years, $35 million).

That 49ers linebacker corps will welcome back Robinson, a reserve who has played three games each of the past three seasons. Robinson, undrafted out of Stanford in 2021, was poised for a larger role and perhaps Greenlaw’s old starting spot before tearing an ACL in practice six months ago. He was slated to become a restricted free agent but agreed to a one-year deal, The Athletic reported.

Monday’s start of the NFL’s negotiation window saw deals also brokered for cornerback Charvarius Ward (Indianapolis Colts), guard Aaron Banks (Green Bay Packers), Dobbs (New England Patriots), offensive tackle Jaylon Moore (Kansas City Chiefs) and running back Elijah Mitchell (Chiefs). The 49ers also informed Juszczyk, the All-Pro fullback, of his release.

Hargrave is one of many defensive tackles striking it rich in free agency, and NFL Network reports he’ll be joining a Vikings team that signed Jonathan Allen to a three-year, $60 million deal. Solomon Thomas, the 49ers’ No. 3 overall pick in 2017, agreed Tuesday on a two-year, $8 million pact with the Dallas Cowboys, ESPN reported.