The 49ers have some depth questions in the pass rush, so bringing aboard former Raiders and Seahawks defensive end Dion Jordan should help.
The San Francisco 49ers are in a position to take low-risk fliers on players who are still available on the open market and have a bit of upside to bolster the roster in the short term. Case in point, the Niners’ addition of veteran tight end Jordan Reed earlier this week on a one-year deal gives a one-two punch at the position to complement the All-Pro, George Kittle, as long as Reed can stay healthy.
Tight end depth isn’t the only element a still-Super Bowl-caliber San Francisco roster would like to address, though.
On Wednesday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the 49ers were inking former Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders defensive end Dion Jordan:
The #49ers are expected to sign former #Raiders and #Seahawks DE Dion Jordan, source said. He flashed with Oakland with 2 sacks, but now helps depth in SF – a team that had tried to sign him in the past.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 5, 2020
Jordan, 30 years old, was Miami’s top pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, taken No. 3 overall out of Oregon. Yet the pass-rusher didn’t catch on with the Dolphins after two seasons and missed all of 2015 while being suspended for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
He subsequently spent 2017 and 2018 with the Niners’ NFC West division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, where he recorded a career-best four sacks.
In total, Jones has 10.5 sacks including two with the Raiders last season.
Why 49ers made the move to bring aboard Dion Jordan
There’s no questioning Jordan never quite lived up to the expectations the Dolphins had when they took him so early back in 2013. At the same time, depth pass-rushers are important to any defense, and San Francisco certainly isn’t an exception.
The Niners are loaded at the top, yes, namely with edge rushers Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead and Dee Ford. But Ford is coming back from offseason knee surgery, and one doesn’t need to be reminded he played in just over 22 percent of the defense’s snaps last season.
Likewise, the depth behind this trio is questionable at best. Defensive linemen Ronald Blair, Jullian Taylor and Kentavius Street are all returning from season-ending knee injuries, too, and their statuses for Week 1 are still unknown despite Street being activated for training camp.
And while the 49ers inking former Dallas Cowboys EDGE Kerry Hyder during the offseason helps, grabbing another pass-rusher is always a smart move.
Especially considering the majority of Jordan’s success came from a system similar to the one San Francisco runs, a 4-3 Under scheme in Seattle.
Jordan is nowhere guaranteed a roster spot, yet the Niners can afford to gamble on his potential upside and veteran’s presence to bolster this unit if he makes the cut.