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NFL free agency: Top 5 players the 49ers should target in 2019

By Peter Panacy

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 08: Free safety Earl Thomas #29 of the Seattle Seahawks warms up before a game against the San Francisco 49ers on December 8, 2013 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 19-17. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 08: Free safety Earl Thomas #29 of the Seattle Seahawks warms up before a game against the San Francisco 49ers on December 8, 2013 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 19-17. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 12: Jadeveon Clowney #90 of the Houston Texans sacks Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 12: Jadeveon Clowney #90 of the Houston Texans sacks Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

No. 3: EDGE Jadeveon Clowney

OK, it’s time to dive into some of the splashier names the 49ers can pursue in NFL free agency.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

It will be interesting to see how the Houston Texans handle former No. 1 overall pick, EDGE Jadeveon Clowney, this offseason. Like the Niners, the Texans don’t have to worry about salary cap hell in 2019, meaning bringing him back wouldn’t be too big an issue.

But given the plethora of offensive and defensive problems Houston is going through, it wouldn’t be a shock to see some change-ups either. So if Clowney hits the open market, San Francisco can afford to splurge to address arguably its biggest need — a quality edge rusher.

He wouldn’t come cheap. According to Spotrac.com’s market-value tool, Clowney’s annual average salary would be in the range of $16.6 million.

Yet that’s the market. Consider it the defensive equivalent of a franchise quarterback.

Right now, the 49ers’ top edge rusher in passing situations is Cassius Marsh, who picked up his first sack of the season in Week 5. Clowney has just 2.5 but is coming off a 9.5-sack campaign a year ago. He’s an obvious upgrade, even if just in name only.

So even if the Niners would prefer to go the NFL Draft route, which is supposed to be deep with pass-rushers, targeting a player like Clowney in NFL free agency would be just as wise.

And proven too.