Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL free agency: 5 under-the-radar players 49ers should target in 2019

By Aaron Tan

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers is stopped short of the goal line by Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers is stopped short of the goal line by Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 11: Outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett #48 of the Denver Broncos sacks quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 11, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 11: Outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett #48 of the Denver Broncos sacks quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 11, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Outside Linebacker Shaquil Barrett

One year later, the 49ers’ biggest need is still the pass rush. And with Ohio State EDGE Nick Bosa seemingly no longer in play for the Niners as they hold the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, NFL free agency is looking more and more like the place to find the pass rusher that the team needs.

Shaquil Barrett is a relatively young and underrated outside linebacker who wants out of the Denver Broncos, his current team. Since stars Von Miller and Bradley Chubb are taking the edge-rusher spot on the Denver defense, Barrett has found himself in a rotational role.

Barrett has all the qualities to be an NFL starter and proved it by earning a solid 74.4 grade from Pro Football Focus as a reserve this season. His stats do not lie, as Barrett has only started 15 games over his three-year career and has racked up 150 tackles, 14 sacks and seven forced fumbles.

Next. The case for 49ers taking Quinnen Williams. dark

Vice President of Player Personnel Adam Peters scouted Barrett out while he was assistant director of college scouting for Denver, and John Lynch has an obvious connection to Broncos general manager John Elway, so there is a good chance that Barrett is on the 49ers’ list of free-agent targets.

Bringing him in would give the team an edge-rushing presence that it has needed for a long time.