San Francisco 49ers sign OL Carver Willis

The San Francisco 49ers' signing of Carver Willis earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), reflecting a low-cost depth flier with limited upside and considerable positional uncertainty. Willis is being brought in on a four-year, $5.45M deal ($1.36M AAV)—a sub-minimum commitment that positions him as a reserve or practice-squad candidate rather than a rotation piece. At the offensive line, where even replacement-level starters command multiples of this AAV, the contract structure itself carries minimal cap risk and allows the team flexibility to cut or reassign him without consequence. The real question is whether Willis has overcome the developmental hurdles that dogged his college evaluation, and the recent media narrative—skeptical of his fit at the position—suggests the organization is proceeding with cautious eyes. For a defending playoff team, this is the exact right price for an unproven tackle prospect: low commitment, low downside, and the option to develop him without breaking the bank. If Willis proves capable of competing at the professional level, the 49ers got a steal; if not, they've lost almost nothing and can move on by mid-season.