Niner Noise
FanSided

Predicting which players 49ers re-sign in 2020 NFL free agency

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Ronald Blair #98 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after sacking Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams (not pictured) during the fourth quarter of their game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Ronald Blair #98 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after sacking Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams (not pictured) during the fourth quarter of their game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Defensive end Ronald Blair #98 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles quarterback Josh Rosen #3 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Defensive end Ronald Blair #98 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles quarterback Josh Rosen #3 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Defensive Lineman Ronald Blair

The 49ers have a logjam along their defensive line entering 2019 training camp, and this is especially crucial for a number of the depth players up front.

True, the Niners are going to be faced with some key decisions a little less than a year from now, including whether or not to re-sign former first-round defensive tackle Arik Armstead, who is currently playing on his fifth-year option.

But it wouldn’t be shocking to see San Francisco let Armstead walk, especially if his asking price gets too high. It certainly would free up some of the starting-caliber depth.

Deeper down the roster, though, things stay interesting.

One could argue there’s going to be a competition between defensive linemen Sheldon Day and Ronald Blair, both of whom are free agents in 2020 and also may not wind up making the 53-man roster this season.

That’s just how deep the 49ers D-line is right now.

What separates Blair from Day, though, is the fact the former has a bit more of a pass-rushing rapport. Last season, on a limited 49.7 percent of snaps, Blair managed 5.5 sacks — tied for second on San Francisco’s defense in 2018.

Day, meanwhile, is more of a run-stopping defensive lineman. While important, run stoppers don’t command the contract or re-sign necessity pass-rushers, even situational ones, tend to.

Blair comes back on a new deal in this prediction.