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San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the 10 worst free-agent signings in franchise history

By Peter Panacy

ST. LOUIS, MO - NOVEMBER 1: Reggie Bush #23 of the San Francisco 49ers is carted off the field after being injured in the second quarter against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on November 1, 2015 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - NOVEMBER 1: Reggie Bush #23 of the San Francisco 49ers is carted off the field after being injured in the second quarter against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on November 1, 2015 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO – SEPTEMBER 10: Defensive end Alfred Williams #91 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles full back Craig Heyward #34 of the Atlanta Falcons during a game at Candlestick Park on September 10, 1995 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 41-10. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO – SEPTEMBER 10: Defensive end Alfred Williams #91 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles full back Craig Heyward #34 of the Atlanta Falcons during a game at Candlestick Park on September 10, 1995 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 41-10. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /

No. 4: EDGE Alfred Williams

Signed in 1995

What makes the No. 4 player on this list of worst 49ers free-agent signings isn’t exactly the contract details (those are elusive), but rather what EDGE Alfred Williams did both before and after his tenure in San Francisco.

Following four productive years with the Cincinnati Bengals, which included 26.5 sacks and 9.5 the year before, the Niners hoped Williams could bolster their pass rush after coming off their fifth Super Bowl championship the year before.

That was the idea, at least.

Williams managed a mere 4.5 sacks with the 49ers and just 28 tackles in a situational pass-rushing role, starting just one game after being a regular starter over the majority of his career up to that point.

The Denver Broncos grabbed Williams after his one-and-done year with the Niners. With his new team, Williams went on to post 13.0 sacks in 1996 en route to both a Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro nod that year.

He’d also wind up winning back-to-back Super Bowls with the Broncos in 1997 and 1998.

Maybe this was a case of the 49ers simply not utilizing Williams properly. Either way, this pickup was a bust for the red and gold.