Niners active early in free agency

Free agency has not even technically opened yet, and already the 49ers have three new players.

San Francisco started by bringing in Jarryd Hayne - a Rugby League star with the Parramatta Eels in Australia on a three-year futures deal worth only $100,000 in guaranteed money, beating the Detroit Lions to his signature.

Hayne is set to compete for a roster spot as a kick and punt returner and, while he has the physical attributes you desire in an NFL player, it will be a huge challenge for the former Australia international to make the final 53-man roster.

I'm going to try to knock something more detailed up on Hayne in the coming weeks, but let's focus on the Niners' two other free-agent acquisitions so far, who figure to have more of an impact in the 2015 season.

Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett signed a two-year-deal with the 49ers on Thursday, coming over from the Arizona Cardinals after missing the 2014 season due to an ACL injury. Dockett should bring more tenacity and experience up front and, providing his knee holds out, has the ability to be a disruptive force as a pass rusher having put up 40.5 sacks in his long career in the league.

At 33, Dockett will likely only be a short-term contributor, although a potentially outstanding one, and I still think the Niners would be best served bringing in more D-Line help via the draft. Still, Dockett is one of the biggest names the Niners have signed in free agency for some time, and one fans can afford to get excited about.

But fans would be forgiven about the Niners' other new recruit, wide receiver Jerome Simpson.

Simpson has had numerous off-the-field problems and did not play in 2014 after being released by the Minnesota Vikings following a driving offence that involved marijuana. Yet, for all his difficulties, Simpson does have the speed to get downfield and has produced to a decent standard when given consistent playing time.

The former Cincinnati Bengal has officially been signed on a two-year-deal but at this point it would be a surprise for him to make the roster even with the Niners' shaky depth at wideout. Simpson will likely be competing with Quinton Patton at the bottom end of the depth chart and it will be intriguing to see how he performs after being afforded the opportunity to resurrect his career.

In non free-agency news, it has been reported by Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee that outside linebacker Aldon Smith has agreed to a contract restructure. Smith will still receive the $9.75million he was due in 2015, but it is no longer fully guaranteed.

This is essentially Smith gambling on himself to put the off-the-field issues that have hampered his career behind him and perform to the All-Pro standard he displayed in 2012 and earn a bumper new contract when his current one expires at the end of the 2015 season.

Despite missing time in the last two years, Smith's sack number still average out at just over 14 a season. If he even comes close to match that mark in 2015, Smith will receive a hefty payday from the 49ers.