As NFL Free Agency begins to slow down, the signings from here on out are going to be fewer and farther between. There are still some big name offensive players left out there due to a conflict in either demand or value of talent, but, for the most part, teams have solidified the free agency part of their rosters.

That’s why it came as a bit of a shock when Buccaneers defensive end, Jacquies Smith, visited the 49ers as a possible restricted free agent signing. 

As a restricted free agent, Smith cannot just up and leave like normal free agents can. Smith is a restricted free agent because he signed as an undrafted free agent in 2012. As an UDFA, players are signed to three-year contracts with an RFA year after the third year, meaning they can’t become full free agents until four years after their draft year.

Tampa Bay tendered Smith this offseason at the lowest level, which pays him $1.7mil this season, and also somewhat protects the Bucs from losing him by giving them a “first right of refusal”, which means that if the 49ers and Smith did reach an agreement, the Bucs have right to match that contract offered and keep Smith on those new terms. However, since he was a UDFA, Tampa Bay would get no compensation if they chose to let him take the deal with another team.

In hindsight, Smith, who posted 6.5 and 7 sacks in back-to-back seasons before tearing his ACL last year, is a good candidate to snag as a RFA considering age and potential production, especially if Tampa Bay is loading up on defensive line.

Bucs general manager, Jason Licht, as well as the team’s defensive coordinator, Mike Smith, have spoken highly of Smith, when healthy, so losing him seem unlikely. But if San Francisco is interested at a higher price, it could happen.