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5 free agents the San Francisco 49ers need to avoid in 2019

By Timothy L. Miller

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 21: Ndamukong Suh #93 and Ethan Westbrooks #95 of the Los Angeles Rams look on during warms ups prior to their NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 21: Ndamukong Suh #93 and Ethan Westbrooks #95 of the Los Angeles Rams look on during warms ups prior to their NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JANUARY 12: Outside linebacker Clay Matthews #52 of the Green Bay Packers sprays his face with water during warm ups prior to the NFC Divisional Playoff Game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on January 12, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JANUARY 12: Outside linebacker Clay Matthews #52 of the Green Bay Packers sprays his face with water during warm ups prior to the NFC Divisional Playoff Game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on January 12, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers will spend money on free agents this offseason. They must spend it wisely, however, meaning there are some players to avoid.

The San Francisco 49ers are in a hole. The good thing is they have a lot of rope. Now it is up to general manager John Lynch and the front office to do something with that rope.

Beginning March 11, 2019, they can get to work. Will they be fashioning a noose or a ladder? The answer to that question may not be immediately apparent.

The Niners front office lost out on acquiring EDGE Khalil Mack from the Oakland Raiders in 2018, as he found himself with the Chicago Bears instead. Lynch has stated he was aggressive in his attempt to acquire the All-Pro defender.

Will the 49ers front office remain this aggressive in player acquisition? With money to spend this offseason, Lynch and Co. have committed to player due diligence. That is the minimum of what should be expected. The bar must be set higher. I believe it is for the 49ers front office.

They don’t just want to kick the tires. They want to want to take a shiny sports car home.

Here is the problem with free agency: you will be forced to overpay, for past performance, not for potential. Ask the Washington Redskins about the signing of defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth. Haynesworth signed a seven-year, $100 million contract. Two years later he was off the team.

I am not Chicken Little. These are merely raindrops. There is time. This is the infancy of the Niners rebuild. Lynch has already acquired his cornerstone in quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Now he has to fill out the remainder of the foundation. A foundation that has to be strong enough to support a structure that will reach new heights, rising into the blue. Set the wrong stone and the sky will fall.

Here are five players who shouldn’t be a part of that process in NFL free agency this offseason.