San Francisco 49ers: Signing Briggs Would Be The Wrong Move
By Kevin Saito
The San Francisco 49ers are desperate for some help. They’ve hung out the “Help Wanted” sign and are apparently interested in talking to anybody and everybody who has played linebacker in the last twenty years.
More from San Francisco 49ers
- 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
- 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
- 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve
- 49ers sign TE Daniel Helm off the Buccaneers practice squad
- 49ers: Jordan Reed could miss up to two months, will be placed on IR
At least, it sort of seems that way.
It’s understandable that they would, given the retirements of Patrick Willis and Chris Borland. The 49ers’ linebackers group is suddenly a bit thin and in need of some warm bodies. And according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, San Francisco is very interested in bringing in veteran Lance Briggs.
"The 49ers remain interested in signing seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs, a source told CSNBayArea.com on Monday."
In his heydey, Briggs was an absolute terror. He roamed the Chicago Bears’ defense and made life absolutely miserable on opposing offenses. Briggs’ efforts over his illustrious twelve year career earned him seven Pro Bowl berths and three All Pro selections. For a good, long while, Briggs was a beast.
Live Feed
Bear Goggles On
The trouble is, Briggs’ heydey has long since passed. He’s now 34 years old, has been limited to just seventeen games over the last two seasons due to injury, and is clearly on the backside of his career. The Bears realized that he doesn’t have enough left in the tank to be competitive anymore and opted to not offer him a contract for the 2015 season.
So the question is, why would the 49ers be interested in him?
It’s because they’re desperately looking for help for a thin linebackers group, and are turning over every stone they come across, hoping to find it. Following the retirements of Willis and Borland, the 49ers’ projected starting inside linebackers are NaVorro Bowman and Michael Wilhoite with Aldon Smith and Aaron Lynch on the outside. Bowman is still recovering from an ACL-MCL injury suffered in January, but is said to be making strides in his rehab.
San Francisco also added Philip Wheeler, Desmond Bishop, and Nick Bellore via free agency to add a little depth. The club has already met with Briggs once, back in March, and are apparently still interested in acquiring him.
Briggs has said that he’s staying in shape and is ready to play, but doesn’t know if a deal with the 49ers is imminent at this point. Likely, if the club is interested in signing him, they will wait until Tuesday, so they will not owe the Bears compensation in the form of a compensatory pick.
San Francisco 49ers
It’s a bit of a puzzling move by 49ers GM Trent Baalke given the fact that they could have addressed the linebacker position through the draft. Or if not the draft, they could have possibly unearthed a gem in the crop of undrafted free agents – but of that crop, the 49ers have signed a quarterback, five wide receivers, an offensive lineman, a defensive lineman, and a safety.
San Francisco did not draft or sign a single linebacker. Instead, they are looking at bringing in Briggs, who is closer to the end of his career than the start of it.
Not scouting and identifying young and talented linebackers to bring in is a shortcoming of Baalke’s. Sure, they could go with what they have on the roster right now and possibly be okay. But it’s not the strongest or deepest unit in the league. If Bowman has a setback in his rehab, or one of the other starters suffers an injury, the 49ers may be in some real trouble.
If Baalke signs Briggs, he will be falling into the same trap his counterpart across the bay, Reggie McKenzie, fell into last year – signing aging players who were once great, whose skills have declined to the point that they’re ineffective. Assuming of course, he can stay healthy enough to even be on the field for more than half the season.
But, this is Baalke’s team, and as he showed with the way he ran Jim Harbaugh out of town, he’s going to do things his way.