San Francisco 49ers Free Agency Watch
It’s still very early in the NFL offseason, but the San Francisco 49ers‘ name is already being tossed around quite a bit. On Thursday, the 49ers announced that they have agreed to terms with free agents Darnell Dockett and Jerome Simpson, and they are being linked to Ted Ginn and Trent Cole. The team is also reportedly interested in bringing back Michael Crabtree.
Dockett is a big signing in the early goings of the offseason. The defensive end was scheduled to make $6.55 million in the upcoming season for the 49ers’ division rivals, the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona decided that was too much money, and parted ways with Dockett. The team reportedly offered Dockett a one-year, $2.5 million dollar contract worth up to an extra $1.5 million in incentives, but Dockett declined.
Dockett’s deal with San Francisco is for two years, and is worth $7.5 million, with $2 million being guaranteed. The first year of the deal is worth $4 million. Dockett, 34 years old, is entering his 12th year as a pro, and is a three-time Pro Bowl selection. He missed all of 2014 following a torn ACL he suffered in training camp. Prior to the injury, he had missed just two games in his first 10 professional seasons.
The 6-4, 290-pounder owns 40.5 career sacks, nine forced fumbles, and 14 fumble recoveries. He also has four career interceptions. When healthy, Dockett brings a ton of experience, and will be an impact player. He also comes fairly cheap, at more than $2 million fewer than what he was slated to be paid in 2015.
The 49ers also grabbed free agent receiver Simpson with a two-year deal. Like Dockett, Simpson also missed all of 2014, but for very different reasons.
Dec 15, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson (81) recovers the onside kick against Philadelphia Eagles tight end
James Casey(85) during the fourth quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Eagles 48-30. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Simpson is a supreme athlete, but he has been in trouble with the law for the last few years. He’s been arrested three times since 2012, and after being arrested in 2014 for a drug-related offense, he was released by the Minnesota Vikings, and did not play in the NFL last year.
In 2008, Simpson was a second-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals, and was with the team for four seasons. Besides his trouble with the law, Simpson is best known for a touchdown catch in 2011, against the Cardinals in week 16, when Simpson jumped and flipped over a defender and landed on his feet in the endzone.
After his tenure in Cincinnati, Simpson moved to Minnesota for two seasons before being released ahead of the 2014 campaign.
If Simpson can move past his knucklehead ways, he could be a valuable slot receiver for the 49ers. That’s a big IF, however, as Simpson just can’t seem to learn his lesson.
One of the bigger names the 49ers are being linked to right now is former Philadelphia Eagles’ pass-rusher Trent Cole. Cole was part of the Eagles’ early roster turnover, and was released earlier in the week. The Seahawks are also reportedly interested in signing the 32-year-old.
In 2014, Cole racked up 6.5 sacks, which would have led the 49ers, along with three forced fumbles. With Ahmad Brooks possibly on his way out after a rocky finish to 2014, Cole could be a suitable replacement. He is a quarterback nightmare, and is a true disruptive force.
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The team has also had visits from Ginn, a wide receiver and kick return-specialist who spent three years previously in San Francisco. Ginn was the seventh overall pick in 2007 out of Ohio State by the Miami Dolphins, and spent three seasons with the team before being traded to San Francisco ahead of the 2010 season. Ginn spent 2013 with the Carolina Panthers, and 2014 with the Cardinals.
Ginn has mostly been a return specialist in his NFL career, and averages 11.1 yards per punt return, and 22.9 per kick return. In his three years in San Francisco, Ginn posted numbers better than his career average, as he averaged 11.8 yards per punt return, and 23.5 per kick return. He also caught 33 passes for 384 yards and one score.
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If Ginn were to return to San Francisco, he would sure up a special teams unit that struggled returning last year, as rookie Bruce Ellington went through his share of growing pains.
San Francisco is also reportedly interested in bringing back Crabtree, who is slated to hit free agency on March 10th. 2014 was a down season for Crabtree, as he caught 68 passes for 698 yards and four touchdowns. His 10.3 yards per catch average was the lowest total of his career, and the 698 yards was the lowest full-season total of his career. Despite all that, he still finished second on the team to Anquan Boldin in catches, yards, and scores.
After a rough 8-8 season, in which injuries took their toll many times over, the 49ers are out to show that they are serious players in this free agency period. The Dockett signing is a good start, but it looks like that could be just the tip of the iceberg.