Much of the 49ers’ focus in 2020 free agency will be on retaining their own players. With valuable contributors like Jimmie Ward, Arik Armstead, Emmanuel Sanders and Ronald Blair all set to hit unrestricted free agency, San Francisco will need to get creative to maintain the key pieces of the roster that took them to the Super Bowl last season.
There’s a good chance the 49ers aren’t able to retain all of their available free agents though, especially when teams will aim to poach their players in an effort to capture some of the production that made San Francisco a contender. They’ll also make some cuts to clear cap space that’ll open roster spots for contributors.
Should the 49ers miss out on re-signing their own players and make those cuts, they can still put together a good free agency period with a splash signing or two, or some smaller moves that provide only minor tweaks to the roster while still filling needs.
Here are five free agents the 49ers may target if they miss out on re-signing their free agents:
WR AJ Green, Bengals
This is certainly a pipe-dream type of signing for San Francisco where they’re able to clear some cap space and wind up getting the 31-year-old Green at a discount. He is coming off an ankle injury that sidelined him for all of 2019, and he’s played just 35 of a possible 64 games over the last four seasons. Green is undeniably productive when he is healthy though, which is why it’s a long-shot for the 49ers to snag him. In his eight seasons, he’s averaging 75 catches, 1,113 yards and 8 touchdowns per year. Adding a more traditional No. 1 receiver across from Deebo Samuel would give the 49ers one of the most dynamic receiving duos in the league.
S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
If the 49ers do lose out on Ward, Clinton-Dix may come at a more affordable price tag. He had an up-and-down showing in the back end of the Bears’ secondary last season while Chicago struggled to gain its footing on either side of the ball. Clinton-Dix had a good year in coverage though, allowing only one touchdown and a passer rating of 69.2 when targeted according to Pro Football Focus. Replacing Ward wouldn’t be easy, but Clinton-Dix may be able to come close.
RB Ameer Abdullah
This seems like the kind of veteran signing head coach Kyle Shanahan and running backs coach Bobby Turner turn into a high-quality acquisition. Abdullah hasn’t been consistently productive across five NFL seasons. He’s logged just 350 carries, 1,366 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. He also has 73 catches for 518 yards and four scores through the air. Abdullah was an excellent runner in college though with the explosiveness to take advantage of the 49ers’ zone running scheme. He’s also capable of being an effective weapon out of the backfield when deployed there. If the 49ers wind up needing a veteran to help share some of the running back load, Abdullah would be a perfect fit.
DL A’Shawn Robinson, Lions
The 49ers probably aren’t going to find a ton of capable pass rushers in free agency, but there might be some interior help available. Robinson won’t come at an exceptionally low price tag, but he’s disruptive enough as a pass rusher and good enough against the run to justify giving snaps to along the interior. If the 49ers aren’t able to lock up their more expensive free agent defensive linemen, Robinson is a player to keep an eye on as a cheaper, alternative option.
WR Tajae Sharpe, Titans
A foot injury in 2017 sidelined Sharpe for all of his second season after a strong showing his rookie year. Since then he hasn’t been able to build on a good first year where he had 41 catches for 522 yards – both still career highs. In three seasons there, he posted 92 catches for 1,167 yards and eight touchdowns. With the Titans spending big-time draft capital on wide receivers Corey Davis and AJ Brown, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them let Sharpe walk. A fresh start in San Francisco could allow Sharpe to carve out a consistent role as a third receiver if the 49ers encounter issues retooling their receiving corps next season.
