San Francisco 49ers sign RB Jermar Jefferson

The San Francisco 49ers' signing of running back Jermar Jefferson earns a C Contract Value Index (CVI), a fair-value deal that reflects the minimal financial commitment and depth-piece positioning inherent to a one-year, $1.005M agreement. At this price point, Jefferson represents a low-cost roster filler with no guaranteed exposure and zero long-term salary consequences — the 49ers are essentially paying replacement-level wages for a reserve option during the offseason window. The CVI grade acknowledges that while Jefferson carries below-average production pedigree, the contract terms are constructed to match that tier precisely; there's no overpayment here, but equally no upside if he outperforms his current standing. The one-year structure offers the franchise full flexibility to move on without penalty if a stronger candidate emerges before the regular season, and the minimal cap hit ($1.005M) leaves the 49ers' spending power intact as they prepare for playoff contention in their current NFC West window. This is the kind of low-risk, low-reward signing that functions as insurance depth rather than a meaningful roster bet, and the C grade reflects that symmetry between contract size and player tier — nothing overly clever, nothing wasteful, just straightforward depth management with zero downside.