49ers Sign Kion Smith to One-Year Deal as Offensive-Line Depth Becomes a Training Camp Priority

The San Francisco 49ers have signed offensive lineman Kion Smith to a one-year contract, adding an experienced and versatile blocker as injuries continue to test the team’s depth during training camp.

San Francisco waived wide receiver Colton Dowell to create space on the roster for Smith, who spent the previous four seasons with the Miami Dolphins organization.

The 27-year-old has appeared in 23 NFL games and made two starts, both at right guard. He also brings experience working at tackle, giving the 49ers another option across an offensive line that has required greater flexibility during camp.

The signing continues a busy period of roster movement for San Francisco, which recently added wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge and defensive lineman Ogbo Okoronkwo while managing injuries across several position groups.

Kion Smith Signing at a Glance

Detail	Information
Player	Kion Smith
Position	Offensive lineman
Age	27
Contract	One year
Previous team	Miami Dolphins
Career games	23
Career starts	Two
College	Fayetteville State
Roster move	Wide receiver Colton Dowell waived

Why the 49ers Added Kion Smith

The timing of the move reflects San Francisco’s need for reliable offensive-line depth rather than a long-term development project.

Smith has already spent five years around NFL systems and has experience preparing at both guard and tackle. That versatility matters during training camp, when teams are evaluating combinations, managing injuries, and trying to prevent one absence from forcing several positional changes.

The 49ers have dealt with a growing injury list during camp, increasing the importance of players who can absorb practice repetitions and provide insurance behind the starting unit.

Smith may enter as a reserve, but the signing gives the coaching staff another experienced option if injuries or performance concerns create openings later in the preseason.

The move follows San Francisco’s earlier additions of Hodge and Okoronkwo, which were examined in The Sports Encounter’s latest NFL roster and injury roundup.

Smith’s Route From Undrafted Prospect to the NFL

Smith entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021 after playing college football at Fayetteville State.

He did not make Atlanta’s regular-season roster, but Miami added him to its practice squad later that year.

That began a four-season association with the Dolphins that included practice-squad development, injured reserve, game-day opportunities, and eventual starts.

Smith appeared in nine games during the 2023 season. After missing the following campaign on injured reserve, he returned in 2025 and played 14 games, including the first two starts of his NFL career.

Miami used him primarily at right guard during those starts, even though he has also been listed as a guard-tackle throughout his professional career.

The Dolphins released Smith in June while restructuring the bottom of their offensive-line depth chart.

What Kion Smith Could Offer San Francisco

Smith’s value will depend on whether he can handle multiple assignments without creating a major drop in protection or run-blocking execution.

Interior Experience

His two career starts came at right guard, giving the 49ers a player who has already faced regular-season defensive fronts from an interior position.

Guard play requires quick communication, strong hand placement, and the ability to handle defensive tackles attacking through a compressed area. Even limited starting experience carries value when a team needs an emergency replacement.

Tackle Flexibility

Smith’s background at tackle adds another layer of roster utility.

Reserve offensive linemen often earn jobs because they can cover several spots rather than because they are the clear second choice at one position. A player capable of working inside and outside gives coaches more options when building the final game-day roster.

Practice Availability

Training camp demands large numbers of repetitions. When injuries accumulate, the remaining linemen can become overloaded before the regular season begins.

Smith can immediately take snaps, support second- and third-team units, and allow the coaching staff to manage the workload of established players.

Why Offensive-Line Depth Matters So Much

The offensive line is one of the hardest position groups to keep intact across an NFL season.

Five starters must operate as a connected unit, with every protection call, handoff, double-team, and blocking angle depending on timing.

When one player goes down, the replacement must adjust quickly. In some cases, another starter changes position, creating two disruptions from a single injury.

That reality gives experienced reserves more value than their public profiles often suggest.

The Sports Encounter recently explored the same theme in its tribute to retired offensive lineman Trystan Colon, whose six-year career showed how adaptable interior blockers can remain useful across multiple organizations.

Smith now receives another opportunity to build that kind of career in San Francisco.

Colton Dowell Waived to Open the Roster Spot

The 49ers waived wide receiver Colton Dowell to complete the transaction.

Dowell joined San Francisco on a reserve/future contract in January after beginning his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans.

Tennessee selected him in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

He appeared in 10 games during his rookie season, making one start and recording one reception for three yards. He has not appeared in a regular-season game since that campaign.

The decision reflects the constant pressure surrounding the final roster spots during training camp.

San Francisco has already adjusted its receiver group following significant injury concerns and recent veteran additions. Dowell faced a difficult path to meaningful playing time as the team continued reshaping the position.

The 49ers Have Been Active During Training Camp

Smith’s arrival is part of a broader effort to stabilize a roster affected by injuries.

The 49ers recently signed Hodge to strengthen the receiving corps and added Okoronkwo to the defensive line.

Those moves came as San Francisco dealt with the season-ending loss of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and other absences across the roster.

The front office has responded by targeting experienced players on short-term contracts rather than waiting for every injured player to return.

That approach reflects the urgency surrounding a team that expects to compete immediately.

Training camp signings rarely carry the attention of major trades, but several can become important once the season begins. An injury replacement who protects the quarterback for two weeks or keeps the running game functional can influence results without becoming a national headline.

Does Smith Have a Real Chance to Make the Team?

Smith faces a competitive path, but the opportunity is legitimate.

His experience gives him an advantage over less-developed linemen competing for reserve roles. The ability to play guard and tackle should also help his case when the 49ers reduce the roster.

His evaluation will likely focus on several areas:

• Pass protection against interior power
• Footwork when playing tackle
• Communication across different line combinations
• Run-blocking consistency
• Penalty discipline
• Conditioning and availability
• Ability to contribute at more than one position

The 49ers do not need Smith to become a long-term starter immediately.

They need him to show that he can enter a game without forcing the offense to abandon major parts of its plan.

What the Move Means for the 49ers’ Offense

San Francisco’s offense depends heavily on timing, movement, and coordinated blocking.

The system asks offensive linemen to execute outside-zone concepts, move laterally, reach defenders, and create running lanes through angles rather than size alone.

Smith must therefore prove that he can fit the movement requirements of the scheme rather than simply provide a large body at the position.

His 6-foot-5, 300-pound frame gives him the physical profile to compete, but technique and decision-making will determine whether he can remain on the roster.

Any offensive-line addition also matters because of its effect on quarterback protection.

San Francisco’s wider championship hopes depend on keeping its passing game stable and preventing avoidable pressure from disrupting the offense.

A Low-Risk Move With Practical Value

A one-year contract limits the long-term risk for the 49ers.

If Smith performs well, San Francisco gains an experienced reserve who can cover several positions.

If he struggles, the club can continue exploring the market without carrying a major contractual burden.

That makes the move typical of training camp roster construction.

The headline value is modest. The practical value could become much greater if injuries force Smith onto the field.

Final Verdict

Kion Smith arrives in San Francisco with a straightforward assignment.

He must learn the system quickly, provide reliable practice repetitions, and prove that he can protect multiple offensive-line positions.

His 23 career appearances and two starts give him more NFL experience than many players fighting for the final reserve jobs.

The 49ers’ injury situation creates an opening, but it does not guarantee a roster place.

Smith must show that his versatility can translate into dependable performance when the offense needs him.

For San Francisco, the signing represents another sensible response to a difficult training camp. The team is adding experienced depth before an emergency forces it to accept fewer options.

Follow The Sports Encounter’s NFL coverage for the latest roster moves, injuries, training camp developments, and analysis from across the league.