When word came down that the 49ers had re-signed tight end Delanie Walker to a three-year, $6 million deal, ripples were felt all across the NFL landscape. Mostly because everybody outside of San Francisco (and some inside) asked themselves, "Who the hell is Delanie Walker?"He's a guy Mike Martz has raved about thus far in the offseason, going so far as to create a package of plays designed specifically to get the ball in Walker's hands (interesting, given that he's got only 23 receptions in two seasons). The extension is obviously another vote of confidence and perhaps the 49ers trying to lock Walker up a year early, before he might command much more after a big statistical jump in '08. That's smart future planning.
What makes it all the smarter is that it might provide for a cheaper, better, quieter life after Vernon Davis. Davis' deal is up before the 2011 season (if there is one). It's safe to assume Davis is going to benefit from Martz's system as well. If he has one or two very good seasons, what would prevent the overconfident, overrated Davis from commanding a huge deal before his contract runs out (especially with the misleading but sexy dangling carrot of an uncapped year in 2010)?
If that's the case, the 49ers would be wise to let another team deal with his attitude. And they'd be even wiser to have Walker ready to take his place.
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.
