The 49ers announced today that they have signed fifth-round draft pick Nate Davis of Ball State to a four-year deal. The team also released safety Lewis Baker, who joined the 49ers last year as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma. That means two draft picks remain unsigned -- third-round running back Glen Coffee and first rounder Michael Crabtree. The parameters of Coffee's deal mostly are in place. Crabtree's, meanwhile, promises to take the longest to finalize. Rookies report to training camp on Tuesday.
Davis teems with talent, and he has the strongest arm of all the team's quarterbacks. The question is where he'll end up this season. Shaun Hill and Alex Smith are battling for the starting spot while veteran Damon Huard seems assured the No. 3 position. That means Davis either would be the No. 4 quarterback on the 53-man roster, something the 49ers would be hesitant to do given depth at other positions, or a member of the practice squad, which would allow other teams to conceivably sign him to their active rosters during the season. Where he ends up likely will depend on how much exposure Davis receives during the preseason and how well he plays when he gets that exposure.
-- Matt Barrows
