Winners, losers from 49ers moves in 2020 NFL free agency

The San Francisco 49ers weren’t overly active on the 2020 NFL free agency market, but the team’s moves did generate a number of clear winners and losers.

In fairness to the San Francisco 49ers, they didn’t need to be overly active in the 2020 NFL free agency market. It’s a position most teams around the league would prefer to be in: not having to make a ton of the splash moves which so often define the offseason.

The Niners’ actions were highlighted by three moves: trading away defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts, re-signing defensive end Arik Armstead and then also re-signing safety Jimmie Ward.

After that, most of general manager John Lynch’s moves were primarily supplementary in nature, bolstering the team’s depth and adding some likely competition for training camp.

Regardless, there were some clear-cut winners and losers from this crucial period, and Niner Noise goes through those who fall into either category with the opening waves of NFL free agency now complete.

Winners

DeForest Buckner

While it might stink going from the team that drafted him, Buckner gets to cash in on a massive new deal worth an average annual salary of $21 million. That puts him as the second highest-paid defensive tackle in the league behind the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald.

San Francisco was never going to pony up that kind of cash, so Buckner gets his due now instead of later.

Arik Armstead and Jimmie Ward

Prior to 2019, both Armstead and Ward had gone through up-and-down seasons, frequently riddled with injury. They both hit their contract years by producing career-best seasons, Armstead leading the 49ers with 10 sacks and Ward being ranked as Pro Football Focus‘ sixth-best safety in the league.

Armstead’s new deal now pays him an average of $17 million per year, while Ward is making an average annual amount of $9.5 million.

Solomon Thomas

Buckner’s absence opens up a glaring void in San Francisco’s defensive line. And while no single player can fill the vacancy, the 49ers’ former No. 3 overall draft pick, defensive end Solomon Thomas, now stands to assume more than the 41.2 percent of defensive snaps he saw last season.

And he’ll likely play most of those on the inside, where he’s had the majority of his success.

John Lynch

Lynch was going to have to make some tough moves this offseason regardless. Turns out, the toughest ones were trading Buckner and allowing wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders to leave in free agency.

While many fans could disagree with Lynch’s path, the general consensus from league experts point to San Francisco’s offseason moves so far in a very positive light.

In more ways than one, Lynch prioritized sustained success over going “all in” like the Rams did in 2018, and Los Angeles is paying the price for it now.

Losers

49ers Defensive Line

There’s no way around it: Losing Buckner hurts a lot.

San Francisco won’t be able to simply replace Buckner, even if Thomas winds up having the best season of his otherwise disappointing career. And while Buckner’s 2019 numbers weren’t as prolific as the ones the year before, there’s no way to overlook both the impact he had freeing up his fellow defensive linemen and providing a well-liked presence in the locker room.

As of now, the 49ers defensive line is much worse than it was before the trade.

Tarvarius Moore

If San Francisco let Ward walk in free agency, the prime beneficiary would have been third-year defensive back Tarvarius Moore, who seemed penciled in to take over for the veteran sooner than later.

Instead, Moore reverts back to being nothing more than a backup in 2020 and perhaps beyond.

Marquise Goodwin

Veteran wide receiver Marquise Goodwin was scantly used over the past two seasons. And despite head coach Kyle Shanahan saying the Niners “wouldn’t release” Goodwin this offseason, the team inking former Los Angeles Chargers wideout Travis Benjamin seems to point Shanahan is willing to replace one speed threat with another this season.

Azeez Al-Shaair

On the surface, the 49ers not tendering and letting linebacker Elijah Lee walk in free agency was a boon to second-year linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.

But San Francisco also brought aboard former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Joe Walker puts a strain on Al-Shaair to hang around the back end of the regular-season roster this season.

Al-Shaair, a 2019 undrafted free agent, was a nice story in training camp. Yet he looked overmatched during his defensive opportunities, and the ability to solely contribute on special teams probably won’t be enough to overcome a player like Walker.