San Francisco 49ers sign TE Khalil Dinkins

Dinkins' three-year, $3.1M deal at a $1.03M AAV earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI) — a fair but unspectacular signing that reflects the going rate for a depth tight end with limited proven production at the NFL level. At that salary, San Francisco isn't breaking the bank, but they're also not landing a bargain; this is essentially replacement-level money for a player who profiles as a roster-bubble contributor rather than a legitimate starter or moveable trade asset. The CVI reflects the ceiling problem here — tight end is a position where developmental players routinely flame out, and without a clear statistical track record to lean on, Dinkins is a projection play rather than a known commodity. With the 49ers sitting at 12-5 and holding the sixth seed in the NFC, this kind of low-cost depth addition makes practical sense as an offseason roster-building move, but it carries zero upside leverage if the move doesn't pan out. The three-year length is the one structural flag worth noting — locking in a depth-tier tight end for that duration introduces some roster rigidity, particularly if a more compelling option emerges during camp or on the waiver wire. San Francisco can absorb the contract financially given the modest AAV, but the length suggests the organization sees at least a developmental role for Dinkins rather than a pure camp-body designation. Ultimately, this is a low-stakes, low-reward transaction that keeps the depth chart filled without meaningfully moving the needle.