Here's an odd signing, one that could just as easily be overlooked, but one that says something about the way the San Francisco 49ers are trying to build as a franchise.The 49ers have signed tight end Delanie Walker to a three-year contract extension worth $6 million, with a $1.8 million signing bonus. Although that's not a huge contract by NFL standards, it seems like a lot to give a guy who, according to Football Outsiders, ranked dead last among NFL tight ends in effectiveness per play -- especially when the 49ers already have one of the highest-paid tight ends in the league in Vernon Davis.
But the 49ers apparently think the 23-year-old Walker is eventually going to be a good player in new coordinator Mike Martz's offense, and they now have him locked up through the 2012 season. If Walker becomes even a moderately effective receiving threat, this signing will be an absolute bargain.
Ultimately, these are the moves that either turn a bad team into a good one, or keep a bad team near the bottom of the league. I like Walker's potential, and I like this signing.
