By all accounts, Robert Saleh knew what he was getting into when he agreed to return to San Francisco as the defensive coordinator. As in, he was made aware there would likely be a great exodus of talent this offseason and he'd be left to make it work with lesser-talented/younger pieces.
If he can do so, his second stint as the Niners' defensive coordinator will not be long.
Depending on what happens in the draft, the 49ers may be looking to make moves to fill defensive voids with available veterans. That puts possible reunions with Saleh from his time as the New York Jets' head coach in play, if there is a fit and presumably if Saleh vouches for said player(s).
Sterling Xie of Pro Football Network has named one veteran each NFL team could trade ahead of the upcoming draft. During or after the draft seems to fit the premise, too.
For the Denver Broncos, Xie named defensive tackle John Franklin-Myers as the veteran who could be on the move. Among three potential team fits, the 49ers were listed first.
"The most obvious connection would be in San Francisco, where his head coach with the Jets, Robert Saleh, is back as the defensive coordinator."
John Franklin-Myers looks like a great fit for the 49ers
Xie noted some big contracts the Broncos have coming on the defensive side of the ball as a reason they might be willing to trade Franklin-Myers. They acquired him from the Jets for a 2026 sixth-round pick on Day 3 of last year's draft, then he went ahead and set a career-high with seven sacks last season. Pro Football Focus graded him as their 12th-best defensive tackle in the league, and he earned the fifth-best pass rushing grade at the position (82.9).
Franklin-Myers spent the previous four seasons with the Jets (2020-2023), the last three of course with Saleh as his head coach. He started all 50 games he played over those three seasons under Saleh, with top-20 overall PFF grades twice (2021 and 2022).
Franklin-Myers signed a two-year deal with the Broncos after they acquired him. The 49ers would be able to take on that final year easily, with $3 million in fully guaranteed salary and $510,000 attached to per-game roster bonuses ($30,000 per game he's on the active roster). It likely wouldn't take more than a Day 3 draft pick to get him.
Franklin-Myers could be on the move during the draft again. The Niners could certainly use an experienced reinforcement at defensive tackle, and it's fair to assume Saleh would endorse a trade for someone he knows well, and who played well in his system.
The fit feels too obvious not to end up happening.