Austen Pleasants

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

This signing grades out as a slight overpay for the San Francisco 49ers — the team is getting approximately what they're paying for in on-field production. Austen's on-field performance ranks in the bottom quartile among NFL OTs, grading him as an unproven at the position. His $1.1M average annual value ranks as bargain money for the OT market. The production lines up closely with the price tag — unproven production at bargain money, which is essentially paying fair market value. Austen is squarely in his prime, which adds to the deal's upside — the team should get multiple productive seasons out of this contract. The 1-year, $1.1M deal keeps the commitment short, giving the team financial flexibility to move on if performance drops.

Performance Analysis

Austen Pleasants grades out as a below-average offensive tackle at this stage of his career, and the D+ performance grade reflects the uncomfortable reality that four seasons in, he has not developed into a reliable starting option. The most generous thing you can say about his 2025 season is that he appeared in 15 games, demonstrating some durability as a depth piece — but availability alone does not move the needle when the underlying play falls short of starting-caliber standards. The most damning piece of context here is that when coaches evaluated his work filling in at left tackle, they openly acknowledged the performance was not what they were looking for, which is a telling admission about his ceiling at the position. As a fourth-year undrafted player, Pleasants has reached the point in his career where the "developmental upside" framing no longer holds — he is what he is, and what he is right now is a camp competitor fighting for a roster spot rather than a long-term solution at a premium position. San Francisco's decision to retain him via an ERFA tender is best read as roster maintenance, keeping a known quantity in the building while the front office addresses more pressing needs elsewhere, as evidenced by the recent wave of signings the organization has made this offseason. His Contract Value Index (CVI) sits at a steady C+, which reflects the minimal financial commitment attached to a tender of this type — the cost is low, but so is the expected return. Unless he significantly outperforms expectations in training camp and preseason, Pleasants projects as roster depth rather than a meaningful contributor to San Francisco's offensive line heading into 2026.

Fan Sentiment

A roster-filler move, re-signing an ERFA offensive tackle as pre-draft depth. Headlines confirm this is a straightforward tender signing with minimal media fanfare. Being an exclusive rights free agent means San Francisco retained him at minimal cost with no competition. Fans view this as routine housekeeping rather than a meaningful roster improvement. Pleasants projects as a fringe roster player competing for a backup spot in 2026.