49ers 2019 NFL free agency plans: Latest news, rumors and reports
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers are expected to be aggressive in 2019 NFL free agency, which officially starts on March 13. Niner Noise breaks down the latest news, rumors and reports.
2019 NFL free agency officially starts at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 13. But the legal tampering period, before 2018 contracts expire, begins on March 11.
The San Francisco 49ers, who are currently armed with $66,014,072 in cap space this offseason, are expected to be aggressive on the free-agent market.
“I feel like if you look at our team, the only position you probably couldn’t argue to go get someone at is quarterback, just because of what we’ve done there and the three guys we have,” head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.
But with only six picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, Shanahan and general manager John Lynch will have to look towards free agency to find those upgrades and reinforcements.
Despite a flurry of trades leading up to the start of free agency, including wide receiver Antonio Brown moving from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Oakland Raiders, the Niners have been relatively quiet in this area.
Don’t expect the same in free agency, though.
With the start of the legal tampering period, Niner Noise breaks down the latest news, rumors and reports from San Francisco heading into NFL free agency.
Rumors and reports will be added as they come in.
49ers Interest in Chiefs EDGE Dee Ford
While not involving free agency itself, per se, the Niners are apparently interested in acquiring Kansas City Chiefs EDGE Dee Ford, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport:
Two #Chiefs notes: 1. They seem to have a market for franchised pass-rusher Dee Ford, with the #Packers and #49ers expressing interest, I’m told. 2. They are hosting FA RB Carlos Hyde and there is a good chance they sign him, if all goes well with the physical, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2019
Ford, who was hit with the Chiefs franchise tag entering 2019, could still be moved after having a breakout 2018 campaign with 13 sacks and a league-leading seven forced fumbles. Ford is scheduled to make $15.4 million on the tag this season — a number the 49ers could absorb.
Yet the question is whether or not the Niners would be willing to send off what would likely be their second-round NFL Draft pick, No. 36 overall.
Free agency does have a lot of pass-rushing options, however, including EDGEs Trey Flowers, Shaquil Barrett, Ezekiel Ansah and Dante Fowler. The draft is also laden with pass-rushers, too.