SF 49ers: 5 older veterans team should add in NFL free agency
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: EDGE Justin Houston, Indianapolis Colts
Veteran EDGE J.J. Watt signing a two-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals worth over $15 million annually shows one thing: Teams have to pony up the cash if they want to get a quality pass-rusher.
At 32 years old, Indianapolis Colts EDGE Justin Houston might not be the perennial Pro Bowler he once was earlier in his career. But him finishing with eight sacks last season shows he still has that “it” factor when it comes to rushing opposing quarterbacks, yet he won’t come anywhere as close to commanding the kind of money other edge rushers will get in what’s going to be a lucrative free-agent class at the position.
The SF 49ers have a glaring need to bolster their pass-rushing depth behind EDGE Nick Bosa this offseason. Fellow EDGE Dee Ford has massive injury concerns and could be a cap casualty, while the Niners’ leading sack-getter from last year, Kerry Hyder, is also a free agent.
Envisioning a player like Houston’s role with San Francisco isn’t too hard to do. Just recall what the SF 49ers did with former EDGE Elvis Dumervil back in 2017 when he was made a situational pass-rusher and finished the year with 6.5 sacks at the age of 33 years old.
That’s what the Niners may intend with a player like Houston at the latter stages of his career.