San Francisco 49ers: Ahmad Brooks release shows faith in Eli Harold
The San Francisco 49ers put their faith in Eli Harold ahead of Ahmad Brooks at SAM linebacker, a move that is not as misguided as it may seem to some.
The San Francisco 49ers released linebacker Ahmad Brooks on Friday in a not entirely unexpected move, but one that says a lot about how they feel about a previously anaemic pass rush heading into the 2017 season. Brooks ends his 49ers tenure having recorded the third-most sacks in franchise history with 51.5.
He has tied for the team lead in sacks in each of the last four seasons and, with the 49ers having recorded just 61 sacks over the previous two campaigns — of which Brooks has contributed 12.5 — cutting him may seem a misguided move.
But there are key reasons why the 49ers may have decided to part with Brooks. He is very much approaching the twilight of his career at the age of 33 and was due to earn over $6 million in 2017, according to Rotoworld.
Eli Harold, the favorite to start at SAM linebacker following Brooks’ release, is a much cheaper alternative at $615,000 in the penultimate year of his rookie deal. However, in his statement about Brooks’ departure on the team’s website, general manager John Lynch indicated it is the Niners’ depth on the front seven that pushed them to make this move.
"“We feel good about the depth and competition along our defensive front and believe that by making this decision now it will give Ahmad a head start on exploring his options with other teams. We wish him and his family nothing but the best.”"
Having invested three successive first-round picks on defensive lineman, and boasting two extremely talented linebackers in NaVorro Bowman and rookie Reuben Foster, it is natural for the 49ers to feel good about many of their pieces on the front seven. But there are also plenty of question-marks in that group, Harold chief among them.
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Aaron Lynch is a player many have had concerns about while Tank Carradine has struggled having been moved around a lot in his first four years with the team. Both those players have impressed in camp and preseason, however, with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh labelling Carradine an elite player at the defensive end spot in the 4-3, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.
Harold, meanwhile, has been comparatively quiet in preseason, having made little in the way of noise his first two years in the league with just three sacks, a forced fumble and a sole pass deflection in two seasons. Though there has been hope he will flourish with the move back to a 4-3 scheme.
Yet speaking in his Friday media conference, head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed his belief Harold has what it takes to improve (via Niners Nation):
"“He’s a physical player who can set the edge, I think he’s got a lot more in him, I think he will continue to improve but I love the way he fights, I love the way he competes every day. He’s a guy to me who’s trying to be his best every day. Usually guys who have that type of mentality, they usually get better not worse.”"
Brooks’ release therefore is a clear sign that they are putting their trust in Harold while also hoping that Lynch and Carradine can finally deliver on their obvious promise as rotational pieces.
It is a particularly big leap of faith to put in Harold but one that could have significant dividends should it pay off. Harold is still only 23 and if he were to impress in the SAM role it would give the 49ers a starter at the position who is only due $705,000 in the final year of his contract in 2018.
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San Francisco can obviously renegotiate that should Harold perform well enough to merit an extension and, given the difference in price and age, it is a well-reasoned decision by the Niners to put their belief in the potential of the third-year player rather than hope Brooks can remain consistent in a year where they are not expected to contend.