4 teams that may ‘kick tires’ on Dee Ford when 49ers release him

Dee Ford suitor No. 1: Kansas City Chiefs

It’s fair to wonder if Kansas City Chiefs fans have forgiven Dee Ford for that infamous offsides penalty during the 2019 AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots. Perhaps, as the Chiefs managed to win the Super Bowl the next… you know, never mind that.

At any rate, two things are worth looking at here.

Ford had his best success with the Chiefs that 2018 season, leading the league with seven forced fumbles and setting a career-high with 13 sacks. And while the context is entirely different for him, both in terms of his health and what his expected role would be entering 2022, perhaps Kansas City is considering a reunion.

The other element is the fact KC’s outside pass rush isn’t exactly of the sparkling variety.

Want your voice heard? Join the Niner Noise team!

Write for us!

Moving defensive lineman Chris Jones back inside last year worked, yet EDGE Frank Clark was wildly inconsistent. And while Kansas City can hope rookie pass-rusher George Karlaftis out of Purdue is as good as advertised, we’re still looking at yet another win-now team that arguably got weaker during the offseason as the rest of the AFC West improved.

The Chiefs’ 2021 defense was problematic early last season before becoming marginally OK, at best, in the second half.

While Ford would likely solve little more than just a situational pass-rushing question, getting him back to his old digs might be worth the investment.