San Francisco 49ers helmet (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
In a surprising move, the 49ers have released veteran tight end Logan Thomas just a day before their first preseason game on Saturday against the Tennessee Titans.

This move comes just over a month since the San Francisco front office decided to sign him on a one-year $1.2 million deal.

In his ninth year in the league, Thomas has enjoyed a relatively successful career. In that time, he has accumulated 2,002 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.

His most successful stretch was between 2020 and 2023, when he played for the Washington Commanders, gaining the bulk of his career stats: 1,685 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Even if those numbers aren’t blowing you away, it’s worth noting that coming out of college, Thomas was a quarterback at Virginia Tech and didn’t change his position until 2016 with the Detroit Lions.

But now, at 33 years old, he could have serious trouble finding a new home, considering the NFL regular season is ready to kick off in less than a month.

Logan Thomas Release Could Signal Brandon Aiyuk Deal Is Close

It’s a long shot, but the 49ers’ decision to release Logan Thomas could indicate that a deal for Brandon Aiyuk is almost done.

San Francisco is looking for a big haul for the All-Pro receiver, and that could come in the form of draft picks or players.

One team to watch is the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have several talented tight ends on the roster, including Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. If a deal is made between the two teams, the 49ers could plan on getting one.

Of course, though, the 49ers could have just been cutting Thomas because they weren’t satisfied with how he looked at practice, but the alternative is certainly something to consider