The 49ers’ super-sized collectionof tight ends shrunk by one Monday morning when Asante Cleveland got traded to the New England Patriots, a league source confirmed.
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According to ESPN’s staff reporter Adam Schefter, the New England Patriots are sending backup offensive guard Jordan Devey, who started four games last NFL season, to the SF 49ers in exchange for Asante Cleveland.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is helped to his feet by teammate Jordan Devey after he was sacked in the fourth quarter during their team’s 33-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 of the 2014 regular season.
The 49ers are trying to find a good combination at right guard and center. During his senior campaign, Cleveland only had 3 catches for 23 yards, but appeared in all 13 games and obviously made an impression on the coaching staff, as he was the Chickillo Award recipient for 2013.
Devey, the American Fork native who played two years at Snow College and two more at the University of Memphis, signed with the Baltimore Ravens in May 2013 after going undrafted.
The SF 49ers have eight tight ends and are practicing in team’s training camp.
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Cleveland was unlikely to make the 53-man roster with Vernon Davis, Vance McDonald and rookie Blake Bell competing for time in addition to veteran Derek Carrier and rookie Busta Anderson. The 49ers have talked, for instance, with Washington where tight ends Logan Paulsen and Niles Paul sustained season-ending injuries. Devey and Cleveland must both pass a physical for the trade to be executed.
