5 bargains 49ers can target after opening wave of NFL free agency
By Peter Panacy
The 49ers may look at the second run on players in NFL free agency in 2022 to make some moves, and these five could be had on the cheap.
It wasn’t too surprising to see the San Francisco 49ers be relatively quiet during the opening week of NFL free agency, their only big-splash signing being cornerback Charvarius Ward.
The Niners, despite losing nose tackle D.J. Jones and Pro Bowl left guard Laken Tomlinson on the opening day of free agency, nevertheless have a playoff-caliber roster and one which might only need a handful of tweaks to make it to the Super Bowl this upcoming season.
Therefore, going all-in for NFL free agency wouldn’t make a ton of sense.
However, with one week of free agency now complete, general manager John Lynch might consider combing the market for less-expensive players who’d likely be available for much cheaper than they would have a week ago at this time, given the demand for their abilities isn’t necessarily sky high.
San Francisco currently has just a shade over $8 million above the salary cap, according to Over the Cap. And while roughly $7 million needs to be reserved to sign their 2022 NFL Draft class, the 49ers could still engineer some roster tweaks to free up space to go after some now-cheaper free agents.
Such as these five bargain-type players Lynch and Co. could go after.
49ers bargain free agent No. 5: EDGE Kerry Hyder
How about a reunion?
Two seasons ago, the Niners ended up helping veteran pass-rusher Kerry Hyder enjoy the most productive year of his seven-year career in which he recorded 8.5 sacks and led an otherwise banged-up San Francisco defense in that category.
That subsequently led him to inking a two-year, $6.5 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks the following offseason, but after only 1.5 sacks in 2021, the Hawks ultimately elected to part ways with him.
The 49ers, namely in the wake of Jones’ departure, could still look to reinforce the defensive line and find another decent pass-rusher to pair on the outside with EDGE Nick Bosa. Plus, Hyder’s prior work with defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, who also helped generate eight sacks during Hyder’s 2016 campaign with the Detroit Lions, might be something of interest for both parties.
If the Niners want to try capitalizing on Hyder’s success under Kocurek, and with the knowledge Hyder hasn’t exactly succeeded elsewhere, it’s likely this could be an awfully team-friendly deal.