San Francisco 49ers sign LB Jalen Graham

San Francisco's signing of linebacker Jalen Graham earns a C- Contract Value Index (CVI), a middling valuation that reflects modest depth-piece utility rather than strategic impact. At $1.145M on a one-year deal, this is replacement-level salary—the kind of signing that fills a roster slot without demanding cap flexibility or long-term commitment, which is exactly what you'd expect for a linebacker acquisition at this price point during the offseason. The CVI grade suggests Graham's production tier and positional scarcity don't justify premium compensation, meaning the 49ers are banking on depth-chart value or special-teams contribution rather than a leap into starter-caliber play. For a team sitting at the sixth NFC seed with a defensive rebuild underway, a low-cost, low-risk linebacker addition makes organizational sense, but it's the kind of move that only moves the needle if injuries create sudden opportunity—otherwise, this is filler. The one-year structure is smart risk management; the 49ers aren't locking capital into a long-term bet, which gives them flexibility to pivot if Graham doesn't stick. Grade this as what it is: a depth signing that does its job without pretense, neither a steal nor a reach.