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2016 Free Agency: Offseason Wish List for San Francisco 49ers

By Trevor Irvine

Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones (82) carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones (82) carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Indianapolis Colts linebacker Jerrell Freeman (50) celebrates after recovering a fumble in the third quarter of their game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Colts won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Indianapolis Colts linebacker Jerrell Freeman (50) celebrates after recovering a fumble in the third quarter of their game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Colts won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Jerrell Freeman: Inside Linebacker – 2015 Team: Indianapolis Colts

Freeman is an under-the-radar player, but when you look at his statistics they jump out at you. Freeman played three seasons in the Canadian Football League before he signed with the Colts in 2012.

In his four year career, he has 322 tackles, 12 sacks and nine forced fumbles. He has had some hamstring issues which cost him three games this year and four games in 2014, however when healthy he is a superior linebacker.

The 49ers linebacker corp took a huge hit with the retirements of Patrick Willis and Chris Borland. Michael Wilhoite just continues to disappoint, and should be let go. The other linebackers are better fits for backup roles and special teams.

Per Pro Football Focus, Freeman ranked fourth out of 97 qualified linebackers with an outstanding plus-90.6 overall grade (on a zero to 100 scale). His run defense was No. 1 in the league at plus-97.9, and his coverage grade (plus-78.8) and pass rush grade (plus-84.9) were well above-average.

Per David Aitken of Pro Football Focus, Freeman ranks fifth on his top-20 list of available free agents:

"The 29-year-old former CFL star had the best year of his NFL career with the Colts this season. Freeman was third in the league amongst inside linebackers in run-stop percentage, and also sat comfortably in the top five in tackling efficiency."

A tandem of Freeman and NaVorro Bowman would be a tackling machine and would quickly solve the tackling woes that the 49ers defense had in many games in 2015.

Per overthecap.com, Freeman carried only $2,356,000 cap number in 2015. He outperformed that contract, but again with the amount of cap space available, the 49ers can offer him a significant pay raise and give him the chance to play alongside Bowman, which surely must be an attraction.

Freeman is still only 29 years old. He is the best interior linebacker available in free agency. There is a good chance that he doesn’t get Indianapolis’ franchise tag, as they have other important free agents in cornerback Greg Toler and kicker Adam Vinatieri. With a big need at this position, Freeman should be a main target for 49ers management.

Next: Malik Jackson