5 free agents 49ers will be glad they didn’t sign in 2022
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: 49ers can be glad they didn’t sign EDGE Chandler Jones
The Niners have to be thrilled former Arizona Cardinals pass-rusher Chandler Jones is out of the NFC West, yet they’ll still have to face him once in 2022 when San Francisco visits the Las Vegas Raiders.
While Jones is still a potent threat, it’s safe to say Las Vegas vastly overpaid the 32-year-old veteran, giving him a three-year deal worth up to $51 million with $32 million of it fully guaranteed.
Sure, a $17 million annual average isn’t terrible for a B-list pass-rusher still in his prime. Yet it’s fair to wonder whether or not Jones is still at that point in this part of his career. After all, five of his 10.5 sacks last season came in Week 1, and he was marginally just “OK” over the remaining 14 games he played.
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Understanding pass-rushers always command a good deal of money on the free-agent market, the 49ers elected to find their complementary piece to pair with Pro Bowler Nick Bosa by using their top pick of the 2022 NFL Draft on former USC EDGE Drake Jackson.
If Jackson winds up panning out, that’ll be an affordable duo for at least the next two seasons while Bosa still plays on his rookie contract.