SANTA CLARA -– The 49ers traded tight end Derek Carrier to Washngton for a fifth-round draft pick, a source confirmed to CSNBayArea.com on Friday.
The 49ers and Washington announced the agreement of the trade, which is pending a physical. Carrier took part in two practices after missing a day of work due to an illness this week. Washington placed tight ends Niles Paul and Logan Paulsen on season-ending injured reserve earlier this week.
Carrier becomes the second tight end the 49ers have traded this week. On Tuesday, the 49ers dealt Asante Cleveland to the New England Patriots for offensive lineman Jordan Devey.
General manager Trent Baalke worked out the trade with former 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan, who now runs Washington's personnel department.
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The decision to trade Carrier comes at a time when he appeared to be in good position to win the backup job to Vernon Davis, who is in the final year of his contract. Moreover, the 49ers awarded Carrier a $400,000 signing bonus in the offseason as part of an extension that pays him reasonable salaries of $585,00, $800,000 and $950,000 the next three seasons.
Carrier is an athletically gifted pass-catcher who has greatly improved his blocking skills. Carrier has appeared in 16 games the past two seasons with the 49ers and has nine receptions for 105 yards.
A source told CSNBayArea.com that teams were more attracted to Carrier than Vance McDonald, the 49ers' second-round pick in the 2013 draft. Davis, McDonald, fourth-round pick Blake Bell, Garrett Celek, Xavier Grimble and seventh-round draft pick Busta Anderson are the tight ends remaining on the 49ers' 90-man roster.
Coach Jim Tomsula was at the podium speaking with the media at the time the news broke. Tomsula initially said he was not aware of the trade agreement.
