5 SF 49ers free agents who follow Robert Saleh to NY Jets

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Solomon Thomas #94 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

No. 3: SF 49ers DT Solomon Thomas

In grading the SF 49ers drafts over the last four years, a primary thorn in the 2017 draft was the disappointing career of defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. He was probably over-drafted a tad at No. 3 overall, but regardless, his performance was rarely league-average.

An unfortunate torn ACL in Week 2 against those NY Jets probably means the end of his tenure with the SF 49ers.

However, the reason Thomas could be an option for the Jets is largely the same reason why Ahkello Witherspoon is a flight-risk. Entering free agency, a good place to rehabilitate a career is going to the team that has a prominent figure that runs a scheme you know about and knows how to work with you to unlock your best-case potential.

Another prospect for Thomas is how he didn’t get a real chance to develop at his best position: interior defensive tackle. A lack of edge depth pushed Thomas outside during the formative parts of his career, and in 2019, Arik Armstead took control of the “Big” defensive end position that shifts inside for passing downs.

Thomas will likely not reach the levels of being a top-three pick in his career. But a new location with a scheme and coordinator he’s developed with?

That’s as good a chance as any to rebuild his career.