Mike Iupati Leaving 49ers for Division Rivals
The San Francisco 49ers offseason is off to a miserable start, and it just keeps getting worse. It started with Jim Harbuagh and the team “mutually” agreeing to part ways, and has gone downhill since. Things seemed to be picking up with the team signing defensive lineman Darnell Dockett and wide receiver Torrey Smith, but for every step forward, there have been five steps backwards.
Frank Gore, the heart of the offense, is headed to the Indianapolis Colts, while Patrick Willis, the heart of the defense, has taken the Barry Sanders‘ route, hanging up his cleats what appears to be much too early. Justin Smith is also leaning towards retirement, but nothing is confirmed there yet. Michael Crabtree also appears to be as good as gone, and Bruce Miller has been arrested for spousal battery.
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Now, left guard Mike Iupati is leaving the 49ers, but not the NFC West. On Tuesday, Iupati and the Arizona Cardinals reached an agreement on a five-year, $40 million deal, with $22.5 million being guaranteed.
The Samoan-born Iupati was raised in California, attending Western High School in Anaheim before heading to the University of Idaho. The 49ers made him their first-round selection in 2010, and he became a rock in the middle of the offensive line. With San Francisco, he was a three-time Pro Bowler (2012 to 2014), including an All-Pro selection in 2012. He started 75 of 80 possible regular season games with the team, but all five misses came in the last two seasons.
Iupati is an elite run-blocker, helping to pave the way for Frank Gore to gain at least 1,100 yards in each of the past four years. However, he is a questionable run-blocker, as he allowed eight sacks last season. Not all of those sacks can be put squarely on Iupati’s shoulders, as, at times, quarterback Colin Kaepernick held onto the ball like a mother holding a newborn, but that doesn’t completely absolve Iupati of blame either. He missed more than his share of blocks.
The Cardinals finished 11-5 last season, second in the NFC West and earning a playoff bid. However, in the Wildcard game, the team was completely overwhelmed by the Carolina Panthers’ stingy defense, as Ryan Lindley couldn’t complete a pass and there was no run game to speak of.
Iupati will upgrade a very weak run game for the Cardinals, as they were 31st in the NFL in rushing yards, at just under 82 per game, and scored only six touchdowns on the ground. He will also become the team’s highest-paid offensive lineman, as his $8 million annual salary surpasses the $7 million Jared Veldheer is slated to earn.
With Iupati’s departure, the move makes room for Brandon Thomas to slide into the starting lineup. The second-year guard spent his entire rookie season on the Non-Football Injury List after tearing his ACL in a pre-draft workout.
Despite that, the team thinks very highly of the third-round draft pick, and will look to put him on the field as soon as he is healthy. The Clemson-product was a two-time All-ACC selection during his collegiate career, and the 49ers hope to bottle that potential and unleash it on the field.
Iupati’s signing with the Cardinals is a big loss, but the team was likely not willing to pay an $8 million annual salary. That money can be better spent in other areas. While it will hurt in the short-term, the long-term outlook, at least from this singular move, is better.