Niner Noise
FanSided

Power ranking the 49ers top 10 players entering 2019

By James Jones

George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 30: Dee Ford #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks in to the crowd during the first half of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 30: Dee Ford #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks in to the crowd during the first half of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

No. 6: Dee Ford

After posting 13 sacks in 2018, Ford was a highly regarded player and was no doubt on multiple teams’ radars when it became clear the Kansas City Chiefs were going to trade him.

No team fitted that description more than the 49ers. This was evidenced by them sending a 2020 second-round draft pick to the Chiefs in exchange for the Pro Bowl pass-rusher. Once the trade was complete, San Francisco rewarded Ford with a new five-year contract.

The 49ers tied for 22nd in sacks last season with 37. Ford had a career-high 13 sacks all by himself. The team saw Ford as a significant part of the upgrade they set out on after last season came to an end.

Ford is an upgrade who should pay dividends on the back end of the defense as well. It’s a well-known fact a good pass rush produces mistakes from the quarterback.

If Ford can have the kind of impact on opposing offenses that he had last season, the 49ers could see themselves with a much-improved secondary, too.