Niner Noise
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5 Players the 49ers Must Avoid in NFL Free Agency

By Ken Wang

Nov 20, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (11) during the game at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (11) during the game at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Nick Perry (53) reacts at the end of the 2017 NFC Championship Game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Atlanta won 44-21. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Nick Perry (53) reacts at the end of the 2017 NFC Championship Game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Atlanta won 44-21. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Outside Linebacker Nick Perry

As with Pryor, Perry is yet another contract-year breakout player that the 49ers should not touch.

The fifth-year pro out of USC had a career-high 11 quarterback sacks. He also started 12 games, doubling his previous career-high of six back in 2013. Per ProFootballFocus, Perry posted an 82.2 pass-rush grade. That was good enough for 19th best among edge defenders. He also displayed a good nose for the ball, notching 52 total tackles.

Prior to last season, the most sacks he had in a season was four and the most tackles he had was 31.

He also has major injury issues. He started just sixteen games total between 2012 and 2015. Even last year when he was playing at such a high level, he was doing it with a club on his hand due to a “significant hand injury.”

The problem with Perry is that he needs to be judged for all five of his professional seasons, not just the most recent one. This draft is considered to be deep with pass-rushing talent.

The 49ers don’t need to be investing significant capital on a player who has had just one single good season under his belt.