Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL Free Agency: 10 Players the San Francisco 49ers Should Target in 2016

By Peter Panacy

Nov 1, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) reacts after making a sack during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) reacts after making a sack during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 11
Next
Oct 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Ian Williams (93) looks at the score board late in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the 49ers 42-17. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Ian Williams (93) looks at the score board late in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the 49ers 42-17. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Nose Tackle Ian Williams

Statistics

Nose tackle Ian Williams enjoyed his first full season with the 49ers since being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2011. And it couldn’t have come at a better time for the free-agent to be.

Williams posted 45 tackles and one sack over 16 games last year and was a key contributor to a 49ers defensive line that still has a number of question marks entering 2016. With last season’s first-round pick Arik Armstead developing and veteran defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey recovering from a season-ending injury, re-signing Williams should be a top priority.

Add to that Williams was the top-ranked defender on the Niners roster, according to Pro Football Focus. He finished with a plus-24.4 overall grade on the season.

The 26-year-old defensive tackle earned $1.546 million last season and should be due a substantial raise in his next contract.

In order to maintain the continuity along the D-line and ensure the Niners don’t suffer any sort of letup here, San Francisco should make Williams one of their top targets this offseason.

Next: DE Nick Perry