49ers free agency: Making a case for running back Dion Lewis
By Joseph Naki
NFL free agency will be open for business in a couple of weeks, and San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch should be looking at New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis as a possible addition.
Will general manager John Lynch and the San Francisco 49ers front office look to free agency to secure an additional running back to their roster? One thing is for sure, the Niners could use help on a depth chart that’s in need of running backs.
Unlikely to re-sign with the 49ers, Carlos Hyde may be shown the free-agent door in a few days. Although, in recent days, Lynch and the 49ers have been in talks with Hyde’s representatives in possible contract discussions.
Not sure why the 49ers organization came up with the solution to have open discourse with Hyde’s reps, but it makes little sense to continue relations with a runner, who clearly had a sub-par stint in his first contract with the 49ers.
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Per Pro Football Focus, Carlos Hyde ranked No. 50 in the league. Moving on from Hyde would make the most sense for the organization. Lynch should cast the sails, and let the wind hit the cloth, as there are a lot of options in both free agency and the NFL Draft as well.
Joe Williams was on injured reserve last year but is supposed to partake in the 2018 season. Not sure of his availability at this point, but Williams is confident he’ll be back to compete regardless of his ankle injury that kept him off the field in 2017.
Williams remains a question mark, though, which casts some doubt on this position entering this season.
Assuming Hyde becomes a free agent, the running backs on the current roster are Matt Breida, Jeremy McNichols and possibly, hopefully, Williams for 2018.
Breida has proven he can take a fair load of carries, but the uncertainty of Williams and the not-so-good fit in McNichols leaves a gaping hole in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s running attack.
Taking a running back in the draft is almost a certainty, as depth is truly a concern at this time.
With free agency right around the corner, Dion Lewis of the New England Patriots will be a commodity Lynch and Co. may not pass up.
A former fifth-round selection of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011, Lewis found himself then behind LeSean McCoy on the depth chart and never really had the chance to show his skills.
Traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2013, then cut by Cleveland in 2014, Lewis bounced to the Indianapolis Colts, where he spent literally a week in horseshoe blue before being released. Signing with the Patriots on Dec. 31, 2014, Lewis found a place where his talents could be of use.
Lewis has great hands, works well in space and is a matchup nightmare on the boundary. Working with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, Lewis would provide stability. But moreover, he gives Garoppolo a safety valve out of the backfield and an extra wideout on the boundary.
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Lewis would be an asset and placing Lewis in Shanahan’s offense would kill two birds with one stone:
- The 49ers would have a third-down back able to play the perimeter, but also a good pass blocker and a guy who can punch it in on the goal line.
- Secures the depth chart providing a healthy rotation of backs.
A move to sign Lewis is not unreasonable in thought. In fact, the fit is not only smart, but justified on so many levels.
Lewis would make a smart free-agent acquisition, and the 49ers Faithful would welcome the young man to continue his journey with open arms.