5 pending free-agent 49ers who have earned new contracts for 2022
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: 49ers EDGE Arden Key
EDGE Arden Key is turning into the kind of player San Francisco thought fellow EDGE Jordan Willis would be this season, the latter impressing a year ago in limited action but missing the first six games of 2021 because of a PED violation.
Key, who ranks second on the 49ers defense behind EDGE Nick Bosa with 3.5 sacks, isn’t one of those players who’s going to threaten double-digit sack totals any given year, and the Niners may want to explore contingency plans to replace No. 2 pass-rusher Dee Ford, who is again out with injury, this offseason anyway.
But, at least for some pass-rushing depth, Key has proven to be a valuable commodity.
At 25 years old, the former Las Vegas Raiders flameout is resurrecting his career and has already set a career-high in sacks this season, also en route to surpassing his career-best 11 quarterback hits, as he has seven to date.
A player like Key could likely be had on the cheap, too, and the newfound success he’s had within San Francisco’s defensive system would afford him the desire to hang around and potentially take less money than he might receive elsewhere.