What You Need To Know: Jarryd Hayne Signs With the San Francisco 49ers
Matt King/Getty
It caused quite a stir last year. Multiple Dally M Award winner Jarryd Hayne walking away from the NRL and from Rugby League to follow a childhood dream to the NFL. One of the very best players in the sport in the midst of his athletic prime. Well, this week he sprinkled a full serving of credibility on those dreams by signing an actual, guaranteed contract with an actual NFL team: The San Francisco 49ers.
What's The Contract Like?
Unlike the touted futures contract that Hayne was expected to get, the 49ers actually offered him a three-year rookie contract. The futures deal would have suggested a long term development project, this way Hayne’s chances of playing this season increase a fair bit. Obviously his performances and improvements in pre-season will dictate that either way, but the path is slightly clearer.
His three year deal comes with US$100k guaranteed, significantly less than he was getting for the Parramatta Eels, but should he work his way onto the 53 man roster, or even the practice squad, then he can expect plenty more dineros. Hayne is effectively an undrafted free agent. Three year deals are the standard for undrafted FAs, and that money he’s getting will cover his first four to five months. After that it all depends on how much he impresses his coaches.
Who Else Was Keen?
We don’t really know for sure. But the Detroit Lions were said to be a major contender. They were ready to offer a future’s deal according to reports, and were favourites for his signature before getting trumped by San Fran. Hayne worked out before several NFL teams (meaning their representative scouts) back in December in California. The Seattle Seahawks, along with the Lions, were specifically thanked by Hayne in his press conference, so they were clearly involved. We know that he visited three franchises so these were probably them. It sounds like the 49ers came up with the best offer both in terms of money and playing chances, so they won out in the end.
Now What?
It’s a short season in the NFL. 17 weeks from start to end, then playoffs if you’re lucky. That’s two-thirds of the year not competing. Yet the League stays busy all year around.
Free Agency begins on March 10 (all these dates will be US times). That means those with expiring contracts are out and teams can start trading and signing new faces. The 49ers hired a new coach for this season, Jim Tomsula, so they’re eligible to begin offseason workouts on April 6 – two weeks before those with returning coaches. Hayne will be involved in these from the beginning.
The 2015 Draft is from April 30 to May 2, and a week after that teams can hold their three-day rookie mini-camps. As an undrafted rookie, Hayne should be eligible for that too. He may also find himself having to sit through a few rookie seminars, where ex-pros hand out mandatory life advice to young folk about to come into more money than they’ve ever seen before. Not even joking, the Rookie Symposium in 2000 saw 300 young NFL players putting condoms on bananas.
Preseason training camp begins properly in mid-July, for the 49ers it’s held at their own purpose-built complex. Rookies and first years can begin seven days prior to their veteran teammates. Training camps start a couple weeks before preseason games kick-off, of which teams must play at least four, and these exhibitions tend to see the full range of available players on show – especially those battling for roster spots. Preseason games finish the week before the regular season begins.
Throughout this period, rosters go from wild, bloated, chaotic groups to tight and focussed squads. Franchises begin with up to 90 players, Jarryd Hayne will be one of those players for the 49ers. By the final preseason games, that number becomes a maximum of 75 players, and a week later a maximum of 53 players. Players that don’t make that final 53 man roster can either be placed on several categories of reserve lists (for long term injuries, suspensions, illness, etc.)… or they’re waived, traded or cut. A day of waivers follows whereupon applicable players can be picked up for another team’s active roster.
If you get cut on the first go, you’re not going anywhere else in a hurry (except maybe the employment office) unless you get very lucky. But players who get waived have a history of ending up on other admiring teams. It’s unlikely that’ll happen with an unproven, undrafted, largely un-scouted player like Jarryd Hayne, so let’s suppose that if he misses the active 53, that he also clears waivers. The team can then sign 10 players to their practice squad.
Players on the practice squad get a weekly wage and attend training with the rest of the team. However they are unable to play unless moved to the active roster (which means clearing up a spot, usually by injury or release). They are also free to sign with any other team at any time, supposing that team is not their current side’s immediate next opponent. Only players with less than a year of NFL experience are eligible, and you can only stay on a practice squad for a maximum of three years, so it’s definitely more of a developmental thing. There’s no upper limit to the salary you can give a practice squad player, but there is a minimum which adds up to just over $100k a year. That’s about what Hayne’s guaranteed through until preseason camps, so that could be seen as a sign of intent on the 49ers part on the Hayne gamble.
Where Will He Play?
The common idea here is that he’s being groomed to play running back, with a lean on special teams as a kick/punt returner. The man himself says as much, but adds that he’s happy to play anywhere. He’ll need to specialise quickly though, and those seem like the best options.
What Can Actually We Expect?
This is where we really hit murky territory. Expectations are a short cut to disappointment, and Hayne deserves credit for his courage and commitment regardless of whether he ends as a Pro Bowler or a bust.
There aren’t too many precedents for what Hayne is doing. Daniel Adongo springs to mind, the Kenyan rugby union international (who spent some time at Counties Manukau in the ITM Cup) turned Indianapolis Colts linebacker prospect. Adongo was signed to the Colts' practice squad despite no previous gridiron experience before linking up with the team that preseason. Adongo made the active roster a year later, and appeared in two games, but a bicep injury curtailed his progress. He’s still rehabbing from that injury, though the Colts remain committed to his chances.
Curiously, the 49ers have another cross-sport project already. English Olympian Lawrence Okoye – still the British record holder for the discus – has spent two years with the 49ers since signing a futures deal in 2013. One of those seasons was spoiled by injury, but the team likes what they have in the converted defensive end. He’s been a mainstay on the practice squad.
The difference between Hayne and other league/rugby converts is that Hayne has some serious pedigree. There have been other such players to have a go at the NFL, but none so talented as Jarryd Hayne, so this really is uncharted waters. While his 4.53 40 yard dash wasn’t devastating or anything, it still would have ranked in the top 10 at the 2015 draft combine. He’s taller than most of the top RBs too, and a different body shape. But then his differences, his league background and his alternate skill set are all a part of the allure.
Hey, it’s easy to be pessimistic. One thing we do know is that American scouts have been willing to take a punt on guys like this before. There’s no substitute for natural talent, and if Hayne can show the kind of elusive running that made him so dangerous as a League player in the face of brutal blockers and heavy hitters, then he has every chance.
Honest to God, do not bet against him.
What About the 49ers, How Are They Doing?
Call it a period of transition. After immense success under head coach Jim Harbaugh, things got frayed last season. The team struggled amidst suspensions and weak performances and they stumbled out short of the playoffs. This from a team that had previously made three consecutive conference championships.
Jim Tomsula is the new head coach. He previously worked with the defensive line and is… well, somewhat of a colourful character. Fully deserving of the role, a guy who has served his dues with the team and also a guy onside with management – which is where Harbaugh fell by the wayside.
Tomsula has also spent several years working for the NFL in Europe working with players completely new to the sport, which was a major factor in Hayne’s decision. The two got relatively well acquainted as JH toured the Niners last year.
“He was probably the one coach who knew the transition better than anyone. He knows what it’s going to take. When Jim Tomsula got the job, that’s when I called (my agent) back up and was like, ‘You wouldn’t believe it. The guy I spent the most time with is now the head coach.’”
Also, Tomsula’s son’s name is Bear.
On the field, the 49ers are in just as much of an in-between stage. Several key players could be leaving and their best defensive player, Aldon Smith, is entering the final year of a rookie contract that’s seen both stunning production and frustrating behavioural issues. Justin Smith will need to be persuaded not to retire. Patrick Willis and NaVarro Bowman finished last season on Injured Reserve. Colin Kaepernick’s numbers fell off a cliff in 2014. Frank Gore is a free agent and so is Michael Crabtree.
But all of those guys are proven quality. Plus this is a team that has always drafted well and they have plenty of youngsters waiting their chance to impress. There’s no way of predicting these things, but San Francisco fans have reason to be optimistic. Last season felt like a disaster and yet they still finished 8-8 despite injuries, suspension and a coach expecting to be booted from his job at any minute.
As far as the Hayne Plane goes, it’s no secret that they need more out of their return teams. They ranked fourth to last with 6.5 yards per punt return (the Atlanta Falcons first with 13.3 y/pr). The kickoff returns were better, averaging a tenth-placed 24.5 y/k. That’s where Hayne can make an immediate impact. Bruce Ellington took most of those duties last year. He’s on the team still but far from a guarantee – especially if he’s required for a bigger role on offence. Without a free agent or draft splash, Ellington will probably move into a starting role at WR, second on the depth chart.
And at running back there are issues too. Frank Gore has been the number one guy for several years but he’s off contract and no certainty to re-sign. He’s a favourite in San Fran and would probably return for a franchise friendly price too, but it all depends on what he gets offered elsewhere. The Colts are keen, so are the Eagles now, not to mention more than a couple of other not-so-competitive sides. With DeMarco Murray on the market, Gore wouldn’t be anyone’s first choice – who’s going past the reigning offensive player of the year? - so this saga may not be resolved until the first domino falls.
That leaves Carlos Hyde and Kendall Hunter as the Niners top backs. They may decide that Hyde did enough in a promising rookie campaign to earn the gig full-time, that’s probably the best scenario for Jarryd Hayne seeing some carries in 2015. Though don’t hold your breath.
How Are the Americans Reacting?
As you’d expect. His NRL highlights are sparking up an electrical storm. And we know the Yanks all love some out of context rugby/league hits – “They don’t even wear pads!?” They’re also really good at calling him a rugby star without realising (understandably) the difference between union and league.
Mostly we’re talking very carefully guarded statements. Praise for his ability, his achievements and his work-rate… but without going on the record either way with a prediction. Fair enough. A 27 year old with no prior experience in the sport beyond Madden, heading straight into the highest level? You can’t blame people for being sceptical. For now he’s a curiosity more than anything.