Free Agency Brings Changes to the 49ers and this Blog

Free agency has started and it has been a day of change for the San Francisco 49ers and for this blog.

Indeed, 'A Brit's Bay View' is in the process of undergoing a revamp and has now become the official blog of '49ers Faithful UK.'

49ers Faithful UK is a fans group that allows all British supporters of the Niners to connect and communicate. They produce a regular podcast, and I am delighted to announce that this blog will now form part of their content.

Further alterations to the look of this page will be forthcoming, but for now please check out group's official Facebook and Twitter pages.

Now on to free agency, where the 49ers have been busier than expected in the early going.

There had been reports that San Francisco were keen to re-sign strong safety Donte Whitner, but those ambitions went unfulfilled as Ohio native Whitner put pen to paper on a deal that will see him return to his home state and play for the Cleveland Browns, as per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

But the Niners have moved to immediately sign a potential replacement by signing Antoine Bethea from the Indianapolis Colts on a four-year $21million deal, as per Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee.

Bethea is an eight-year veteran that should be considerable experience to the San Francisco locker room.

The 29-year-old's style differs to that of the hard-hitting Whitner, but he has still totalled 100 tackles or more in six of his eight seasons in the NFL.

ESPN analyst Matt Williamson believes Bethea is "better near the line of scrimmage than in deep coverage", but insists that the two-time Pro Bowler is "better than a stop-gap signing" (hat-tip to Bill Williamson of ESPN.com).

San Francisco may still choose to add another safety in May's draft but, with Whitner now gone, it is reassuring to have a veteran presence at the position to pair with impressive youngster Eric Reid.

Whitner will be a loss to an underrated San Francisco secondary, which lost another member as cornerback Carlos Rogers was released.

Cutting the 33-year-old Rogers saves the 49ers a reported $5.1m in salary cap space.

Rogers made the Pro Bowl after his first season with San Francisco in 2011, however, the 49ers had hoped to release the former Washington Redskin before last term, although that move was put on ice when Chris Culliver sustained a knee ligament injury.

Injuries hampered Rogers late in the regular season and in the post-season, and it comes as no surprise that the 49ers have opted to rid themselves of his salary.

One cornerback who is staying in San Francisco is Eric Wright, who re-signed to a reported one-year deal, as per The Sacramento Bee.

Wright enjoyed limited playing time last season after signing following his release from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, although he did snare the game-clinching interception in the week 14 win against the Seattle Seahawks.

The San Francisco native will likely have to prove himself to the front office and the coaching staff after a debut season in which he played in just 7 regular season games, but his ability to play in the team's nickel defense should help his cause.

Kicker Phil Dawson has also opted to re-sign with San Francisco on a two-year deal, a move that will please all 49ers fans after Dawson converted 32 of his 36 field goal attempts in a hugely impressive first campaign.

However, the 49ers did manage to shock everyone on the opening day of free agency by trading a sixth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

It is a trade that will rightly bemuse fans given Gabbert's terrible NFL career so far.

Gabbert was selected 10th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, but has endured three miserable seasons, playing just three games in 2013.

But the 49ers have a plethora of draft picks this year, and exchanging a late round selection for a back-up QB that has first-round talent is no gamble whatsoever.

San Francisco head coach Jim Harbaugh has had success developing Colin Kaepernick and Alex Smith, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, despite doubts over their respective abilities.

And the 49ers are hopeful Harbaugh can do the same with Gabbert.

"We thought highly of Blaine as an early entry into the 2011 NFL Draft," said 49ers general manager Trent Baalke on the 49ers' official website.

"He is a high-character individual that will be given every opportunity to develop within our system and we are looking forward to working with him."