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Contract details revealed for Leon O'Neal, San Francisco 49ers following 2022 NFL Draft

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner•05/01/22•

Jonathan Wagner

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Daniel Dunn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.

After a four-year collegiate career at Texas A&M, former Aggies safety Leon O’Neal has found a new home in the NFL. O’Neal was not selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he has signed an undrafted free agent deal with the San Francisco 49ers. On Sunday, Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson revealed additional details on O’Neal’s agreement with the 49ers.

“San Francisco 49ers’ free agent deal for Leon O’Neal @AggieFootball includes $50,000 base salary guarantee, $10,000 signing bonus,” Wilson tweeted.

As a freshman in 2018, O’Neal played in six games with 14 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception and one pass defended. He played himself into a full-time role in 2019, and he had steady production from then on. In 2019, O’Neal had 41 tackles with three tackles for loss, three passes defended and one interception. During the 2020 season, he had 48 tackles, two tackles for loss, three passes defended and two interceptions.

This past season, O’Neal totaled 58 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, five passes defended, one fumble recovery, and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

What O’Neal brings to the 49ers

Prior to the NFL Draft, NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein broke down O’Neal’s game. When assessing his play, Zierlein saw a safety that works hard but has some inconsistencies in his game. Regardless, O’Neal finds himself with an opportunity to make it with the 49ers with his undrafted free agent deal.

“Safety prospect with good size and field recognition but major deficiencies that could be tough to overcome,” Zierlein said. “O’Neal puts the work in and it shows with the way he locates routes and rushes on top of them as a zone defender. While he has some success playing forward, he’s missing the hips and speed to hold up as a last line of defense against NFL speed.

“To make the situation muddier, O’Neal was an inconsistent tackler throughout his time at Texas A&M, which could add to the challenge of making a roster in 2022.”