5 free agents SF 49ers can purge from NFC West teams in 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Center Ethan Pocic, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks rarely seem interested in spending money on their offensive line, and cap limitations may prevent them from doing so anyway this offseason, meaning center Ethan Pocic might be a commodity they can’t afford in 2021 anyway.
Pocic, 25 years old, is hitting free agency after his first full year as a true starter, and his movement skills could be an element San Francisco would be interested in.
Plus, at that age, Pocic is only beginning to hit the prime of his career.
Finding some interior upgrades at center makes a lot of sense for the SF 49ers this offseason. Veteran center Weston Richburg missed all of 2020 because of a knee injury suffered the previous season, while backup center Ben Garland missed the latter two-thirds with a calf injury. Richburg could be a cap casualty in 2021, and Garland is poised to hit NFL free agency, too.
On top of those woes, which created a revolving door at the position, the Niners could stand for an upgrade at right guard as well.
Pocic probably won’t come overly cheap. But interior linemen rarely command the kind of free-agent money offensive tackles receive, and he’d certainly be worth less than what Richburg is scheduled to make in 2021 — $11.9 million.
If getting younger and cheaper is a priority for San Francisco, Pocic makes sense.