After spending most of his first four seasons in Minnesota as a part-time back [url=http://www.bengalscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-randy-bullock-jersey]Randy Bullock Jersey[/url] , Jerick McKinnon wanted to find a spot in free agency where he could show off his ability as a featured runner.

San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan saw enough from his film over those years to decide he was the player they wanted to be their starting running back, giving him a four-year deal that will guarantee him nearly $12 million in 2018.

"It was big for me," McKinnon said Thursday. "It was what I was hoping to have and looking for instead of staying in Minnesota and being in that third-down back role. I was looking for that opportunity. I'm glad this organization, this team, coach Shanahan felt strong enough about me and brought me in. I believe it's the perfect fit."

The 49ers said they heavily targeted McKinnon and center Weston Richburg as players they wanted to acquire early in free agency. Richburg agreed to a five-year deal on Wednesday and both players were introduced at a news conference Thursday.

McKinnon spent four years in Minnesota mostly as a backup after being drafted in the third round in 2014 after playing mostly quarterback in college at Georgia Southern. He has rushed for 1,918 yards with average of 4.0 yards per carry, has 142 catches for 984 yards, and has scored 12 touchdowns.

McKinnon had his most productive season last year when he ran for a career-high 570 yards,, while setting personal bests with 51 catches for 421 yards.

The addition of McKinnon replaces Carlos Hyde, who is leaving as a free agent for Cleveland. McKinnon has more speed and is a better receiving threat than Hyde and should fit well into Shanahan's offense.

"He's good enough to make it as a runner alone in this league. He's good enough to make it in the pass game as just a third down threat alone, but when you can do both of those, it gives you a lot of freedom as a coach [url=http://www.coltscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-christine-michael-sr-jersey]Christine Michael Sr Jersey[/url] ," Shanahan said. "Based off of what downs you put him in and that when you do put him in, the defense doesn't know exactly what type of plays you're trying to run because he can do it all."

Richburg spent the past four seasons with the New York Giants but played only four games last year because of a concussion. He began his career as a left guard before moving to center in 2015. He played there the past three seasons and is considered one of the top pass-blocking players at the position and has the athleticism to thrive in Shanahan's zone-running scheme.

The Niners are hoping Richburg has a similar impact in San Francisco as Alex Mack had in Atlanta when he joined the Falcons when Shanahan was offensive coordinator there.

"I've been around some real good ones in my career," Shanahan said. "He's put it all on tape and he looks right there with all those guys and that's why I value him a ton off the tape. Didn't know a ton about him until I turned on the tape and it was as good as I've seen."

With Richburg in place, the Niners traded last year's starting center Daniel Kilgore to Miami in a deal that included a swap of seventh-round picks. The 49ers had signed Kilgore to a three-year extension last month but felt Richburg was the better option at center so worked to find a new spot for Kilgore.

It's been a busy offseason already for San Francisco. The Niners signed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a five-year deal last month before he even hit free agency, signed cornerback Richard Sherman after he was cut by Seattle, re-signed defensive lineman Cassius Marsh and offensive lineman Garry Gilliam and gave an extension to receiver Marquise Goodwin.

The team also signed defensive lineman Jeremiah Attaochu to a one-year deal Thursday to help bolster the pass rush and still could make a few more moves to upgrade a team that won its final five games last season after Garoppolo took over as starter to finish 6-10.

"We feel like we've improved our team greatly and that excites us," general manager John Lynch said.
Not many football players can go from high school to the NFL without leaving a 17-mile radius.

Uchenna Nwosu was thrilled to be able to complete that feat Friday night after getting drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers, who play their home games in his hometown.

The Chargers selected the Southern California linebacker with their second-round pick, the 48th overall.

Los Angeles kept its focus on defense in the third round, picking North Carolina State defensive tackle Justin Jones.

Nwosu starred at Narbonne High School in Harbor City before leading the Trojans, who won the Pac-12 title last season. Now he'll spend Sundays at StubHub Center, where he has spent many days before.

"It means a lot to be around the people that supported me my whole life," Nwosu said. "Just to be able to play right down the street from my parents' house where we grew up [url=http://www.billscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-zay-jones-jersey]Zay Jones Jersey[/url] , walking and watching tennis matches and all types of soccer games there my whole life, just to be able to play in there and be home, it just means a lot to me. I'm very grateful for it."

Nwosu grew up in Carson, the suburban home of the two-stadium complex now occupied by the Chargers while they build their permanent home in nearby Inglewood. While StubHub's compact size is unique in the NFL, Nwosu knows all about it.

"I'm used to that place," Nwosu said. "I've been there so many times. It's basically in my backyard."

Nwosu will be expected to contribute to a defense that looked solid last year and is getting better. The Chargers added Florida State safety Derwin James with the 17th overall pick Thursday night, while Jones is likely to be a key rotation player on the defensive line.

"I just know that there are a bunch of guys on that defense that are hungry," Nwosu said. "They have a good defense. They've got a lot of playmakers on that defense. It's attack mode. It fits my style of play."

Nwosu has long appeared to be a good fit with the Chargers, who showed particular interest in him during the scouting process and during their workout day in Costa Mesa. Nwosu's speed and versatility on the outside will fill needs for the Chargers, who went into the draft hoping to restock their depth at linebacker.

"He had a great year at USC this year," Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said. "Constantly around the football, whether it was making a tackle behind the line of scrimmage, affecting a play [url=http://www.coltscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-marshall-faulk-jersey]Marshall Faulk Jersey[/url] , getting his hands up, knocking the ball down, getting a key sack on third down. He just showed up week after week after week.

"It was easy for us to take notice of him, because we saw him a lot at USC. The fact that he's local is pretty cool. It's not why we took him."

Nwosu will join Hayes Pullard, his fellow USC linebacker and Los Angeles-area native, on the Chargers' roster.

Nwosu made significant progress during his four seasons with the Trojans, emerging as a senior leader and an elite pass-rusher with 9 1/2 sacks for the Pac-12 champions last year. Although he didn't start at USC until late in his sophomore season, his speed and edge rushing abilities made him one of the West Coast's top outside linebackers.

"I showed them what kind of player I am, you know?" Nwosu said. "Being able to show everything I can do, from rushing to covering, to dropping (into coverage and playing) special teams. I just showed I'm a complete package."

The 309-pound Jones fills another need on the Chargers' defensive line, which could use depth and youth. The physically punishing North Carolina State product will join 33-year-old Brandon Mebane and Corey Liuget, who will miss the first four games of the season after failing a doping test.

"Man [url=http://www.texanscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-tyler-ervin-jersey]Tyler Ervin Jersey[/url] , they're a pretty strong group," Jones said. "I know they bring it every day, so that means I've got to bring mine every day as well. It's just high standards over there, especially on that D-line, so it's great to have an opportunity to be a part of it.

Jones was a four-year teammate of Bradley Chubb, the North Carolina State defensive lineman who went to the Denver Broncos with the fifth overall pick.

Jones wasn't widely expected to be picked in the third round. His family was planning a party to celebrate the draft on Saturday, but Jones instead will be on a plane from Atlanta to Los Angeles.

"We've got to postpone that," Jones said with a laugh.
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