To strengthen the defensive line and replenish the offensive line, the 49ers have concentrated on middle-class players with reasonable salaries during the first week of free agency. Meanwhile, there are reports that Jacksonville and Brandon Aiyuk are interested in doing a deal together.
1. What do you make of the moves so far in free agency?
Since Dee Ford, Leonard Floyd has been the Niners’ finest Bosa bookend. The Niners haven’t had a player like Floyd since Ford in 2019 who can constantly divert the offensive line’s focus to create opportunities for his teammates. Floyd is also dependable and long-lasting. He hasn’t missed a game in the past six years, and during the past four seasons, he has collected at least nine sacks.
Floyd also has five-man front-row experience playing for the Niners under assistant head coach Brandon Staley. Floyd and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who performed well in a five-man front in Philadelphia, would also benefit from this.
Just now, Hargrave’s deal was rearranged to provide additional cap space. The Niners may have been more optimistic about Hargrave’s future because of the possibility of a five-man front put in place by Staley and defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen.
Yetur Gross-Matos, Maliek Collins, and Jordan Elliott, the three other defensive line acquisitions, are all placing bets on defensive line coach Kris Kocurek to improve their respective performances. In his final two seasons at Penn State, Gross-Matos recorded 17 sacks and 35 tackles for loss; as a professional, he has not even approached that total.
The bulk of the remaining veterans were signed to special teams. There are two exceptions: Isaac Yiadom on the outside corner. He competes with Darrell Luter Jr. for the starting spot, and in my opinion, he will take Ambry Thomas’ place.
De’Vondre Campbell, a linebacker, has physically collapsed. Is it a degenerative ailment, or was his play diminished as a result of Green Bay’s usage of him?
2. How real is the Aiyuk to Jacksonville rumor?
Not terribly, in my opinion. Although Aiyuk and his inner circle are attempting to exert pressure, the 49ers have the upper hand. Next season, the organisation can allow Aiyuk to finish out his present contract before franchise-tagging him. It is $21.8 million this year; next year it will probably be higher, but still less than Aiyuk anticipates.
According to what I’ve seen, Aiyuk’s team is working with Jags General Manager Trent Baalke to build leverage and a story that Aiyuk wants to go to Jacksonville, therefore move him. We won’t give you the 17th pick in this round, though, because he wants out. That’s the intention. I think it’s going to fail. The Niners would only deal with Jacksonville in the event that Baalke included the 17th selection and contract discussions fail. Stalemate.
This rumour is true, and it centres on Baalke offering Aiyuk the 17th selection. It’s fiction if you think you can use the Niners to get them to accept less.
3. If the Niners move up or down from 31 what will it cost? What’s realistic?
The historical draft trade chart indicates that:
Trade Up in the First Round:
Pick 20 to Pittsburgh, with a future fifth added by the Steelers, for SF picks at 31 and 63.
Pick 26 (Tampa Bay) for SF choices 31 and 94; the Bucs will also add a fifth later on.
Buffalo, choice 28; San Francisco, picks 31, 133, and 176.
If LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. or any of the six starting tackles are available, I could see the move up to number 26. The Niners demonstrated their willingness to advance in order to acquire the players they have their sights set on Ji’Ayir Brown last season.
The Niners may try to deal down if Duke centre Graham Barton leaves and they aren’t convinced about the late first receivers or defensive backs. The most likely partners would be teams hoping to acquire a quarterback in the late first round in exchange for a first-round choice and an additional year on the rookie deal. They would be hoping to trade up for Michael Penix of Washington or Bo Nix of Oregon.