49ers free agency: Grading 2021 additions and losses

Grading 49ers’ pickup of Samson Ebukam to bolster the pass rush

It wasn’t flashy, but it sure was smart enough for San Francisco to pluck EDGE Samson Ebukam from the Los Angeles Rams.

Ebukam, a situational pass-rusher for the last four years in LA, isn’t intended to be an every-down player. But he does have some advantages that’ll bolster the 49ers pass rush.

At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, he’s a little lean for a true defensive end, meaning he’ll likely rush from outside stand-up positions in sub packages. The Niners lacked speed within their pass rush last year. And with defensive ends Ronald Blair and Kerry Hyder hitting the free-agent market, someone like Ebukam guards against San Francisco suffering too much departure attrition in this department.

Meanwhile, the 49ers are also expecting EDGE Dee Ford, who saw just one game last year because of a back injury, to be absent at least for the start of 2021. Perhaps longer.

Ebukam has yet to miss a game over his four-year career.

While Ebukam’s 14 career sacks over that span don’t jump off the page, getting him for a two-year $12 million contract with zero guaranteed in 2022 isn’t bad.

Pass-rushers are expensive, and even the second-level names can get up there in the cost department. Hopefully, this deal winds up paying off in major ways this upcoming season.