Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 10 players who looked far too weird in other teams’ uniforms

By Peter Panacy

Sep 27, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore (23) runs off the field after defeating the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Indianapolis won 35-33. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore (23) runs off the field after defeating the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Indianapolis won 35-33. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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September 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Aldon Smith (99) during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Ravens 37-33. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
September 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Aldon Smith (99) during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Ravens 37-33. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 10: Linebacker Aldon Smith

The 49ers apparently found their next pass-rushing great when they drafted linebacker Aldon Smith with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Smith immediately became a factor that year and registered 14 sacks his rookie season. The pass-rusher backed up his impressive 2011 campaign the following year by nearly breaking the single-season record for sacks, but he fell just short with 19.5.

Off-the-field issues paralleled Smith’s four-year tenure with the 49ers, and his production over the final two seasons in San Francisco was never quite the same.

Granted, a nine-game suspension in 2014 didn’t help out his cause much. But the talented, yet troubled linebacker wasn’t quite able to rectify his problems off the field.

As a result, the 49ers parted ways with Smith in advance of the 2015 season. He subsequently signed with the Oakland Raiders and saw action in seven games before being suspended again. After a failed attempt to be reinstated, the Raiders cut bait with Smith in 2018.