5 players 49ers should avoid in 2020 NFL free agency

NFL free agency is quickly approaching. As always, there has been near-constant speculation about who the San Francisco 49ers should attempt to sign. Let’s take a look at five free agents the Niners should avoid instead.

NFL free agency officially begins on Wednesday, March 18. Every year around free agency there is constant chatter over what players people think the San Francisco 49ers should pursue.

From big stars to lesser-known players, everyone has an opinion on who is the ideal target. Here, we’re going to look at who the Niners should not pursue in 2020 free agency.

Here are five San Francisco would be wise to avoid.

No. 1: Quarterback Tom Brady

Let’s just get this out of the way.

I can’t believe I have to say this, but the 49ers should not try to sign New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in free agency. Brady, widely considered the greatest NFL quarterback of all time, is set to enter free agency for the first time in his career this offseason.

There has been lots of speculation as to where he will go, with teams like the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans emerging as likely landing points if he does not return to the Patriots.

But for some reason, people keep linking Brady to the Niners.

It makes sense Brady would want to play for the 49ers. Brady grew up in the Bay Area, idolizing the Hall of Famer, Joe Montana. Who wouldn’t want to come back to California after living in New England for 20 years? And of course, the Niners have a great team with strong offensive weapons Brady would love to play with.

But despite Brady’s desire to play for the Niners, there is absolutely no reason for the Niners to sign him.

First off, the Niners don’t need a quarterback. That applies to all of the free-agent quarterbacks this year, not just Brady. The Niners don’t need Brady, or Dak Prescott, or Jameis Wintson, LASIK or not.

The Niners have their quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo. Who, by the way, led them to the Super Bowl this past season. Sure, Garoppolo made mistakes and looked shaky at times, but he delivered for the Niners way more times than he let them down.

But even if the Niners needed a quarterback, there is zero reason for them to pursue Brady. Brady is 42 years old and will be 43 by the time the next NFL season starts. Sure, Brady may be the best to ever do it, but he cannot keep doing it much longer. He has looked noticeably worse in recent seasons, coming in at 17th in total QBR this past season.

The Niners don’t need a fading, legendary quarterback. Especially not when they are set to continue the success of last year’s Super Bowl run. Garoppolo has nowhere to go but up, and frankly I’d be surprised to see Brady go anywhere but down.