The 49ers on Friday signed one of their first-round picks, linebacker Reuben Foster, to a four-year contract. That leaves just two of their 10 draft selections — Solomon Thomas and C.J. Beathard — unsigned as the offseason nears its end.
The 49ers will have a mandatory, three-day minicamp Tuesday-Thursday next week. Then they’re off until the start of training camp in late July.
Thomas, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, hasn’t been able to take part in any of the ongoing practices because Stanford’s school year remains in session. He will be permitted to join the squad Wednesday.
Beathard, a quarterback from the University of Iowa, was selected at the end of the third round. Of the 10 quarterbacks taken in the draft, four remain unsigned.
The 49ers ranked Foster as the third-best prospect in the draft and say they would have taken him at pick No. 3 had Thomas been unavailable. Instead, concerns about his surgically repaired shoulder and an off-the-field incident at the scouting combine caused him to drop to pick No. 31 where the team selected him.
Foster has been unable to practice in full while his shoulder heals but should be cleared for training camp. He’ll practice at the weak-side linebacker spot where Malcolm Smith currently is the starter.
“He lights up a room,” general manager John Lynch said of Foster. “He’s a good kid. I believe in the kid. I think he’ll be a great player for this organization for a long time.”
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