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The team also announced that it has re-signed defensive end Sam Okuayinonu, a restricted free agent, to a one-year deal. The 49ers tendered the one-year deal to Okuayinonu on March 11.
The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.
Kirk (5-11, 200) was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round (47th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. Throughout his eight-year NFL career with the Cardinals (2018-21), Jacksonville Jaguars (2022-24), and Houston Texans (2025), he has appeared in 106 games (80 starts) and registered 432 receptions, 5,415 yards, and 30 touchdowns through the air, and added 22 carries for 159 yards on the ground. He has also appeared in five postseason contests (two starts) and totaled 31 receptions for 345 yards and four touchdowns to go along with one carry for 18 yards. In 2025, Kirk appeared in 13 games (three starts) with Houston and tallied 28 receptions for 239 yards and one touchdown. He also appeared in two postseason contests, where he added 10 receptions for 164 yards and two touchdowns.
A 29-year-old native of Scottsdale, AZ, Kirk attended Texas A&M University (2015-17), where he appeared in 39 games and registered 234 receptions for 2,856 yards and 26 touchdowns to go along with 23 carries for 120 yards. He earned Associated Press First-Team All-SEC in 2016 and 2017.
Waitman (6-2, 210) originally entered the NFL after signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2020. Throughout his four-years in the NFL with the Steelers (2021 & 2024-25) and the Denver Broncos (2022), he has appeared in 52 games and registered 230 punts for 10,673 yards (46.4 average), while pinning 84 of his punts inside the 20-yard line. He has appeared in two postseason contests and added 11 punts for 530 yards (48.2 average), with nine of his punts landing inside the 20. He has also spent time on the practice squad with the Steelers (2020) and New England Patriots (2021 & 2023) in his career.
In 2025, Waitman appeared in 17 games with the Steelers and registered 62 punts for 2,823 yards (45.5 average), including 26 downed inside the 20-yard line. He also appeared in one postseason contest and registered six punts for 273 yards (45.5 average), with four of his six punts landing inside the 20.
A 30-year-old native of Ghent, Belgium, Waitman attended the University of South Alabama (2015-18), where he appeared in 40 games and registered 158 punts for 6,740 yards (42.7 average).
Okuayinonu (6-1, 269) appeared in 15 games (12 starts) and registered a career-high 39 tackles, 3.0 sack,s and one forced fumble in 2025. He also started in both postseason contests he appeared in and tallied six tackles with the team.
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