Niner Noise
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NFL free agency: 49ers’ top 3 targets for 2018

By Peter Panacy

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after intercepting a pass by the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after intercepting a pass by the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 26: Andrew Norwell #68 of the Carolina Panthers in action against the New York Jets during their game at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 26: Andrew Norwell #68 of the Carolina Panthers in action against the New York Jets during their game at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Offensive Guard Andrew Norwell, Carolina Panthers

Like Allen Robinson, it doesn’t appear as if the Carolina Panthers will place a franchise tag on fifth-year offensive guard Andrew Norwell.

Norwell, who earned his first All-Pro selection in 2017, was also Pro Football Focus‘ third-best guard last season. On 1,066 snaps, Norwell didn’t allow a single quarterback hit or sack. That’s pretty elite.

This kind of production won’t come cheap. According to Spotrac.com’s market-value tool, Norwell is worth an average annual salary of $11.7 million — awfully high for an interior offensive lineman.

Remember, though, the 49ers can afford this and could also use help up front.

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The guard position isn’t settled heading into 2018. Right guard Brandon Fusco is unsigned, and left guard Joshua Garnett missed all of last season with a knee injury. His fill-in, Laken Tomlinson, struggled early before finishing the year with a halfway-decent 70.7 PFF grade.

Norwell would be an upgrade over all three options.

If signed, Norwell would assume the left-side duties, pushing Garnett into open competition with Tomlinson for the right guard spot. The move would also lessen the need to re-sign Fusco, as the loser of the Garnett-Tomlinson competition becomes the immediate interior backup.