The San Francisco 49ers are an unquestioned Super Bowl contender. Here are five free agents that could help San Fran before the start of training camp.
The San Francisco 49ers have had one of the best offseasons of any team in the NFL so far. San Fran was blessed with two first-round draft picks this past April — selecting Javon Kinlaw and Brandon Aiyuk — while re-signing some key players from their 2019 campaign. That said, the team could stand to add more talent before the start of training camp.
Luckily, plenty of talented players remain in free agency. The 49ers locked up defensive lineman Arik Armstead to a five-year contract extension earlier this offseason, along with re-signing safety Jimmie Ward. It seems the 49ers were keen on retaining their homegrown talent first.
But with roughly $16 million in cap space left to spend for the 2020 season, should general manager John Lynch go all in by adding one or two more key contributors in free agency? After reaching the Super Bowl just four months ago, perhaps the 49ers would be wise to push all their chips to the middle of the table by signing some talented free agents.
It would seem the team is already headed for that type of approach after trading for left tackle Trent Williams during the 2020 draft. The disgruntled Williams was traded away from the Washington Redskins for third- and fifth-round draft picks. A seven-time Pro Bowler, he should provide ample protection for Jimmy Garappolo’s blindside.
The trade for Williams may not be enough, though. If the 49ers want to get over the hump and win the Super Bowl, they’ll need to target one of these five free agents. Here are five players still available for San Fran ahead of the start of training camp.
5. Josh Kline, OG
Though not a top 10 guard, Josh Kline would provide the 49ers with an instant upgrade along the interior of the offensive line. San Francisco’s current projected starters of Laken Tomlinson and Tom Compton are both average at best.
Kline, who spent last season with the Minnesota Vikings, is an ideal fit for the 49ers. He has extensive experience in a zone-blocking running scheme and has the athletic profile to be a pulling guard. At the very least, Kline would provide the 49ers with ample depth along the interior and would challenge Compton and Tomlinson in training camp.
San Francisco relies heavily on the run game on offense, led by running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman. Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t the type of quarterback who can take over games. Kline would give San Fran a run-blocking guard who can aid in what the team does best: grinding the clock and running the ball.
Even as an experienced veteran (92 games played, 77 starts), Kline would still be a cheap option for general manager John Lynch. He likely wouldn’t cost more than $3-4 million for a one-year contract. This could be a sneaky signing for the 49ers.
4. Darqueze Dennard, CB
The 49ers have one of the NFL’s premier corners in Richard Sherman. Even at 32 years old, Sherman has shown in his two years in San Francisco that he still has the skill-set to go toe to toe with the NFL’s best receivers. The problem for the Niners is that there isn’t much depth behind Sherman.
Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Moseley were both pedestrian last season as starters at right cornerback. K’Waun Williams is one of the NFL’s better slot corners, but the 49ers need a reliable boundary corner to put on the opposite side of Sherman.
The 49ers could shore up their secondary by signing Darqueze Dennard, formerly of the Bengals. Drafted by Cincy in the first round in 2015, Dennard hasn’t necessarily lived up to his draft pedigree. That said, he’s been a valuable role player for the Bengals for the past six seasons and would be an upgrade for San Fran on the outside.
The biggest knock against Dennard is his lack of interceptions. In 77 games, he’s snatched just three picks and recorded just 22 passes defensed. Dennard played the majority of his snaps in the slot in 2019, however, which saw an increase in his productivity. This infers that he can play any both in the slot or on the boundary. He’s also an effective run defender.
3. Logan Ryan, CB
The best available free agent cornerback is Logan Ryan, who spent the last three seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Ryan had a breakout year in 2019, recording four interceptions, four forced fumbles, 4.5 sacks and 18 pass breakups (career-high) for a Titans team that reached the AFC Championship game.
Ryan has shown the ability throughout his career to play left corner, right corner or in the slot as a nickel back. Drafted in 2013 by the New England Patriots, he’s one of the NFL’s best at disrupting at the catch point. In five of his seven seasons, Ryan has recorded double-digit pass breakups. His instincts and ability to break on the ball are superb.
Though he’s never been named to a Pro Bowl, it could be argued that Ryan is one of the NFL’s most underrated cornerbacks. In 85 games started he’s posted 78 passes defensed. He’s also been a turnover machine with nine forced fumbles and 17 interceptions during his seven-year career.
At 29 years old, Ryan would also bring valuable veteran leadership to the 49ers. Much of the San Francisco 49ers’ secondary is filled with young pups.
2. Larry Warford, G
It was somewhat of a surprise to see the Saints release veteran guard Larry Warford last month. Warford enjoyed a career resurgence in New Orleans after being drafted 65th overall by the Lions in 2013. After spending four seasons in Detroit, Warford signed with the Saints in 2017 and subsequently was named to three straight Pro Bowls.
The Saints drafted Michigan center/guard Cesar Ruiz in the first round of the 2020 draft, so the writing was on the wall for Warford. Set to turn 29 years old later this month, a team looking for experience along the interior offensive line would be wise to sign him.
The San Francisco 49ers offense is at its best when the run game is running at full capacity (pun intended). With Warford, an experienced road grader, the Niners’ rushing attack would have an immediate upgrade along the interior. Though arguably a better pass protector, Warford’s skill-set as a run blocker is much better than that of Laken Tomlinson or Tom Compton.
A two-year contract valued at $6-7 million per year (average annual value) could be enough for the 49ers to sway Warford’s representatives. Not to mention the fact that San Fran is an instant Super Bowl contender.
1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE
Can you imagine if the San Francisco 49ers added Jadeveon Clowney to their defensive line rotation? The three-time Pro Bowler and former first-overall pick spent last season with the Seattle Seahawks after being drafted by the Houston Texans in 2014. Still just 27 years old, Clowney is in the midst of his athletic prime.
The 49ers’ greatest strength on their entire roster is unquestionably the defensive line. Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, Arik Armstead and Solomon Thomas all hail as former first-round draft selections. Even after trading away Deforest Buckner to the Colts, general manager John Lynch used the first-round pick he acquired from Indianapolis to select Buckner’s successor, Javon Kinlaw.
Currently, San Fran has five former first-rounders along the defensive line. Adding Clowney to the rotation would only improve the team, adding strength in numbers to a unit that already boasts the NFL’s best pass-rush rotation.
Imagine having to designate pass protectors to Bosa, Clowney, Armstead and Ford all at once. Or having to block Bosa on one play, only to be assigned to Clowney the play after. Double-teams would be non-existent. If the 49ers want to put their roster over the top and enter full ‘win-now’ mode, they’ll sign Clowney.