San Francisco 49ers: 5 Dream targets in 2021 NFL free agency
By Xavier Dixon
San Francisco 49ers dream free agency target No. 4: Shaquil Barrett, EDGE
Despite how good it was in 2019, the 49ers pass rush was lackluster this past season. Part of that was due to injuries but that only heightens the possible need for more reinforcements. Moreover, Dee Ford is not guaranteed to return and Nick Bosa is coming off a torn ACL. As such, Shaquil Barrett would improve the defense as a whole immediately.
After leading the league in sacks in 2019, Barrett didn’t slow down this past year as he was a top-10 player in terms of pressures and continued to play at a high level in the playoffs with eight QB hits and four sacks en route to winning the Super Bowl.
San Francisco’s Wide-9 defense could compliment Barrett with his ability to win on the edge with speed or with his hands. Bosa pairing with Barrett would form a hellacious tandem, especially if the team could somehow retain Ford as well.
With Barrett lining up on the edge for the 49ers, that would allow Arik Armstead to move to his more natural defensive tackle position in the 4-3 defense. He’s versatile and can move but Barrett would be the better option. With Barrett on the free agency market, he’s going to be paid as one of the highest-earning edge rushers in the NFL. But if the 49ers could somehow afford him, he’d make a huge impact.