$2.25 million blocker for the 49ers expected to sign with the Lions…….

No matter how good the San Francisco 49ers are in 2023, certain players might be available for free come March 2024

Jon Feliciano, a guard with the 49ers, may sign a contract with the Detroit Lions following the season, according to Bleacher Report. Feliciano has participated in 20% of the Niners’ special teams snap counts and 39% of the team’s offensive snap counts this season.

After the season, Feliciano’s $2.25 million contract expires, and he may look to sign a larger agreement somewhere. Three lineman with the Lions—Graham Glasgow, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, and Jonah Jackson—are in the last year of their contracts.

Staff members at Bleacher Report stated, “Feliciano would be a good target because he has experience playing both guard spots and center and the opportunity to earn a starting job could be enticing for him.”

The crew of Bleacher Report went on, “But even if, say, Jackson is retained, the Lions should still look into signing the nine-year veteran in free agency.” In worst situation, Glasgow’s backup guard and center position is filled by him thanks to his versatility as a sixth offensive lineman.

Following a one-year, $3.25 million contract with the New York Giants in 2022, Feliciano signed with the 49ers this year. His career started in 2015 when the Oakland Raiders selected him out of Miami in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.

From 2015 to 2018, he participated in 48 games with the Raiders before leaving in free agency to play for the Buffalo Bills. Between 2019 and 2021, Feliciano started 31 games for the Bills before spending a year with the Giants.

Feliciano may be re-signed by San Francisco in 2024, but the organization also has 15 other players who will be eligible for free agency. Included in that are free safety Oren Burks, defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw, defensive end Chase Young, and backup quarterback Sam Darnold.

Feliciano Jon playing well for the 49ers lately
In Week 15, Feliciano made his sixth start of the 49ers season and received a 93.5 rating from Pro Football Focus. In place of Spencer Burford, he prevented any quarterback pressure.

Feliciano scored a 93.5 the week prior in the 14th week of the NFL against the Seattle Seahawks. This season, he has played in all 14 games and has only received two false start penalties.

The depth of the line was aided by Feliciano’s early season break into the Burford rotation.

In a press conference on November 13, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan stated, “Nothing against Spencer, but I wanted to make sure that Jon knew that we were aware of how well we thought he had been doing.”

That was something I had just brought up to him and was going to do. Hadn’t considered our strategy yet,” Shanahan continued. “After Aaron [Banks] got hurt, we never looked into it again because we knew he was going to be up this week and this week going forward. I just thought he had earned to be out there a little bit.”

In addition to Banks’ turf toe ailment, Burford’s knee issue kept him out of Weeks 14 and 15, while Feliciano’s concussion happened in October.

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