Niner Noise
FanSided

5 remaining free agents the 49ers can still target in 2019

By Peter Panacy

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 27: Ezekiel Ansah #94 of the Detroit Lions tackles Bruce Ellington #10 of the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL game at Ford Field on December 27, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions defeated the 49ers 32-17. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 27: Ezekiel Ansah #94 of the Detroit Lions tackles Bruce Ellington #10 of the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL game at Ford Field on December 27, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions defeated the 49ers 32-17. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 09: Ezekiel Ansah #94 of the Detroit Lions reacts on the bench during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 09, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 09: Ezekiel Ansah #94 of the Detroit Lions reacts on the bench during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 09, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

No. 2: EDGE Ezekiel Ansah

This one is a bit interesting. And it’s not overly shocking to see a relative lack of interest in former Detroit Lions EDGE Ezekiel Ansah, given his notable injury history as of late.

That said, Ansah still has plenty of upside as a pass-rusher when healthy. He might not be the Pro Bowl-caliber, 14-plus sack specialist he was back in 2015. But as the age-old NFL adage goes, defenses can never have too many pass-rushers. Even if the 49ers already traded for Dee Ford and expect to add another during the NFL Draft.

Plus, Ansah has connections with San Francisco’s coaching staff. Ansah worked under now-49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek from 2013 through 2017, so there’s that relationship. And the Niners’ senior personnel executive, Martin Mayhew, drafted Ansah for the Lions back in 2013.

So much of this hinges on what the market for Ansah commands. He’s currently engaged in a free-agent team tour, and it’s possible another pass rush-needy team would offer him more than what the 49ers would be willing to offer.

But if the market isn’t quite to Ansah’s liking, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see San Francisco offer up a short-term, incentive-laden deal to see if Ansah can be yet another piece to the defense’s pass-rushing issues heading into 2019.