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San Francisco 49ers: Grading DeForest Buckner trade, other moves in NFL free agency

By Peter Panacy

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers is seen during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers is seen during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Ronald Blair, 49ers
Ronald Blair #98 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

. . RE-SIGNING RONALD BLAIR. A.

This will be viewed as an under-the-radar move, but it’s highly important to note.

With DeForest Buckner gone, as well as pending free agents along the defensive line, Sheldon Day, Damontre Moore and Anthony Zettel, there are some notable concerns about depth heading into 2020.

That depth took a hit last season when defensive lineman Ronald Blair suffered a torn ACL against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10. Blair’s injury threw off San Francisco’s defensive rotation. And while there were many other factors at play here, one could notice the Niners D-line wasn’t quite as effective with Blair out of the picture than it was before his injury.

Granted, Blair is going to have to recover from his injury and be healthy enough by training camp. That’s a concern.

But it also justifies the 49ers giving him just a one-year deal, which provides a versatile piece with some pass-rush prowess this upcoming season.