49ers 2019 free agency tracker: Live updates, news and reports
By Chris Wilson
Linebacker Kwon Alexander
Four years, $54 million
The 49ers’ second free-agent signing of 2019 was both splashy and controversial, as the team reportedly signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker Kwon Alexander to a blockbuster 4-year, $54 million deal:
49ers intend to sign former Bucs LB Kwon Alexander to a 4-year, $54 million deal that includes $27 million guaranteed, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2019
At the time, the terms of the contract made Alexander the highest-paid inside linebacker in the NFL, although that record was quickly broken when the New York Jets signed linebacker C.J. Mosley.
Alexander is slated to start alongside second-year inside linebacker Fred Warner for the 49ers in 2019. Along with his expensive price tag, the 24-year-old LB comes with his fair share of negatives, including an extensive injury history. Alexander is currently recovering from a mid-season ACL tear that limited him to six games in 2018:
| Games | Def Interceptions | Fumbles | Tackles | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | Fmb | FR | Yds | TD | Sk | Comb | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sfty | AV |
| 2015 | 21 | TAM | MLB | 58 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 3.0 | 93 | 59 | 34 | 6 | 5 | 5 | |
| 2016 | 22 | TAM | MLB | 58 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 38 | 1 | 38 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3.0 | 145 | 108 | 37 | 12 | 7 | 9 | |
| 2017* | 23 | TAM | MLB | 58 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 70 | 0 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 97 | 70 | 27 | 7 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 2018 | 24 | TAM | MLB | 58 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 45 | 34 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | |
| Career | 46 | 46 | 6 | 123 | 1 | 38 | 22 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 7.0 | 380 | 271 | 109 | 31 | 17 | 25 |
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
In addition to missing 18 games in four seasons, Alexander missed 78 tackles over the course of his career, which ranks second-worst in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. As expected, initial reviews of the 49ers’ expensive acquisition were less than positive.
However, like nearly every one of San Francisco’s signings over the past three years, Alexander’s deal became a little easier to swallow once the details of his contract were reported. Although it’s certainly not the preferred plan, the 49ers could potentially walk away from their new linebacker after one extremely expensive season:
Kwon Alexander (49ers), $54M, $27.5M gtd, $4M signing bonus, $8.5M fourth day 2019 roster bonus, salaries $1.75M (gtd), $11.25M (gtd inj at signing, skill-capp if on roster April 1, 2020; $12.55M, $12.65M, $46,875 per game active annual
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 12, 2019
Alexander is an excellent athlete with considerable upside, but despite having a Pro-Bowl appearance to his name, the youngster has yet to develop a full understanding of the linebacker position. If the 49ers can combine his athletic talent and playmaking ability with proper technique, perhaps Alexander will one day be worthy of the elite contract he will sign with the team on Wednesday.