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San Francisco 49ers: Grading the Kwon Alexander signing

By Nathan Beighle

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 21: Duke Johnson #29 of the Cleveland Browns is defended by Kwon Alexander #58 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a game at Raymond James Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 21: Duke Johnson #29 of the Cleveland Browns is defended by Kwon Alexander #58 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a game at Raymond James Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers have agreed to a deal with Kwon Alexander, one of the league’s best linebackers that played the 2018 season in Tampa Bay.

It’s official. Per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, the San Francisco 49ers will be signing the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander. He reportedly signed a four-year, $54 million contract, a huge deal in principle for a linebacker.

One of USA Today’s top-40 free agent options, Alexander ended the 2018 season with snaps in just six games, missing 10 due to a torn ACL. The linebacker is two years removed from recording a league-high 108 solo tackles.

Taking up a chunk of the salary cap for the struggling Niners, was this the right move to make? Ending the 2018 season 4-12, moves were destined to be made for the 49ers, but was this what they needed? What kind of grade do the Niners deserve for this high-profile signing?

LB. San Francisco 49ers. KWON ALEXANDER. B+.

At the end of the day, the Niners needed to make moves. They needed to do something to prove that they’re working in the right direction. This was a move that spoke volumes about how the team is willing to spend in order to improve their defense.

Per Over The Cap, the 49ers entered the 2019 offseason with the sixth-most cap space available. A team not looking to sign a star quarterback or tight end, the move for Alexander might’ve been exactly what they needed defensively.

The 49ers ranked 19th in yards allowed per game and bottom-five in points allowed per game. That said, the Niners, who may not have an elite offense in 2019, can mimic the 2018 Chicago Bears, who thrived due to a stout defense.

However, opting to give an inside linebacker around $13.5 million per year might not be exactly what the team needs to gain ground in a competitive NFC West. Alexander’s signing may have ultimately been a solid move for the Niners, but what it didn’t do was significantly close the gap between the Niners and either the Seahawks or Rams, only slightly increasing their postseason chances.

Money like that needs to bring in a significant contributor. If Alexander struggles to stay on the field this season like he did last season, the Niners may be looking at one of the worst free agency signings due to the high-value of his contract.

2019 NFL Mock Draft: Post-combine two-round projection. dark. Next

The Niners are going all-in this offseason with reports also surfacing that they’re targeting cornerback Pierre Desir and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.