Super Bowl 59 kicks off Sunday, February 9 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The championship game is another rematch of a previous Super Bowl.
The Philadelphia Eagles will do battle against the Kansas City Chiefs on the league's grandest stage for the second time in three years. Last year, the Chiefs ousted the San Francisco 49ers for a second time in four years.
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As the 49ers season wrapped up more than a month ago, the front office will have a chance to scout a few potential free agents that could help return the former NFC West winners return to playoff form.
Kansas City Chiefs
Offensive weapons such as running back Kareem Hunt or receivers DeAndre Hopkins, Juju Smith-Schuster and Marquis Brown look lucrative. All of which are slated to become free agents following the Super Bowl.
The 49ers spent a first-round pick last NFL Draft on wideout Ricky Pearsall. The team also committed long-term to Brandon Aiyuk midseason.
At running back, San Francisco seems more than content with both the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason. Elijah Mitchell and Isaac Guerendo are also listed as running backs for the 49ers.
Thus, the attention should be focused elsewhere on offense. The offensive line could always use an upgrade.
While someone who is 30 years old or more may not be the most lucrative option at this position, they can serve as depth or a bridge until the future tackle or guard is developed. This particular free agent is no stranger to the NFC West as his first team was the Arizona Cardinals.
D.J. Humphries could be looking for another team next season once his current contract expires. This season, he is making about $5 million give or take incentives. The former Florida Gator was a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
That is certainly affordable for the San Francisco 49ers, who are projected to be more than $45 million under the salary cap, per Over The Cap. Trent Williams will turn 37 before the next NFL season begins.
Humphries is a solid and economically-sound replacement for Williams should the 49ers let the veteran left tackle walk. If signed to a similar deal, one year for $5 million, San Francisco would receive another piece to help protect the quarterback and open up the run game.
Philadelphia Eagles
Another former collegiate football player that shined in the state of Florida (FSU), this edge rusher could also be looking for a new place to call home. It would mark the first time in his career that this linebacker plays elsewhere if signed by the 49ers.
Josh Sweat has been a member of the Eagles since the 2018 NFL Draft. He played for the Eagles in the Super Bowl two years ago against the Chiefs.
He is familiar with the postseason which gives returning defensive coordinator Robert Salah a stronger roster to have San Francisco return to the postseason. This was the first year since the injury riddled 2020 season when the 49ers last failed to make the playoffs.
Sweat made Pro Bowl honors in 2021. With more than 230 total career tackles and 40-plus sacks, he is a viable free agent to add.
The 28-year-old earned nearly double the salary of Humphries this season. After De'Vondre Campbell walked off from the 49ers during the Thursday night game against their rival, the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco is surely in search of at least one new linebacker.
Sweat would make a wonderful addition alongside Fred Warner and compliment Nick Bosa nicely. The former Florida State Seminole is 6'5'' and 265 pounds of physicality.
Since his rookie season in 2018, Sweat has played in at least 14 games or more every season since. Sweat's best season came during in 2022 when he had a career-high 11 sacks.He also collected another career-high in terms of total tackles with 48 and snagged his only career interception. Sweat's pick resulted in immediate touchdown as he ran it back for six points.
By signing the seven-year veteran, the 49ers can use any one of their draft picks in April how they want. They could build up the offensive line like they did by selecting Dominic Puni.
Sweat may have a heftier price tag than Humprhies. However, both impeding free agents are worth a look at by San Francisco's front office during the Super Bowl. Win or lose on Sunday, last year's NFC Champions would benefit from signing either, or both.