No more franchise tags were issued after Tuesday’s 1:00 PM PT deadline, leaving the door open for the 49ers to acquire multiple potential game-changing players in free agency.
Six franchise tags were used, including the 49ers placing one on kicker Robbie Gould. The other five went to edge rushers Jadeveon Clowney, Frank Clark, Dee Ford and Demarcus Lawrence, and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.
A lack of top-end talent on the edge doesn’t eliminate the 49ers’ need or ability to make a splash in free agency though. None of the players who were tagged were ever expected to land on the open market.
Here are six players who weren’t tagged, and will very likely get a call from the 49ers barring a last-minute extension prior to the unofficial opening of free agency on March 11.
DE Trey Flowers, 25-years old
Flowers was one of three players who could’ve gotten tagged by the Patriots. He’s a versatile edge player who would fit at any of the four positions along the 49ers’ defensive front. Flowers has 21 career sacks, all in the last three seasons, and proved to be a very effective player for Bill Belichick’s defense. A player who can affect the passer off the edge, while also having the versatility to kick inside would make an immediate impact on the 49ers’ defense. Arik Armstead’s return and the likely use of an early draft pick on an edge rusher make paying a steep price for Flowers less likely, but San Francisco should at least kick tires on the four-year veteran.
FS Earl Thomas, 29
There’s not a player available in the draft or free agency who could greater transform the 49ers’ secondary than Thomas. He has a wealth of experience in the scheme run by defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, and even at 29-years-old he’s still one of the best safeties in the league. He notched more interceptions (3) in four games than the 49ers did all last season (2). It sounds like Thomas has already narrowed down his desired teams to Dallas and San Francisco, and all it’ll take is more money from the 49ers. Their superior cap situation should allow them to do that and acquire the three-time All-Pro.
S Landon Collins, 25
It was a bit of a surprise the Giants didn’t at least franchise tag Collins. Letting young, All-Pro-caliber secondary players walk after their rookie deals are not typically conducive to building winning football teams. Alas, Collins will hit free agency and should be one of the players the 49ers call if they’re unable to come to a deal with Thomas. Collins probably slides into a strong safety role in the 49ers’ defense with his athleticism and ability to impact games near the line of scrimmage. He’s versatile enough though to fall back to the free safety spot in a pinch. If San Francisco can’t come up with Thomas, Collins would be a fine consolation.
LB CJ Mosley, 26
The 49ers are in search of a young linebacker to slot in at WILL alongside Fred Warner to form a foundational duo in the heart of the 49ers’ front seven. Mosley fits that bill. It’s not out of the question that he re-signs with the Ravens, but they didn’t franchise tag him and it looks like he’ll hit the open market. Mosley is an exceptionally talented player who was a Day 1 starter for the Ravens after going to them No. 17 overall in the 2014 draft. He’s a very smart, athletic linebacker who would pair tremendously with the also athletic Warner. Mosley has 597 tackles and 43 tackles for loss in five seasons. The 49ers could wind up making him their top priority in free agency if they don’t plan on paying top dollar for one of the available safeties.
DE Dante Fowler, 24
The market for Fowler will be very interesting. He had a tumultuous exit from Jacksonville which elected not to pick up his fifth-year option after selecting him No. 3 overall in the 2015 draft. A knee injury put him out for his entire rookie year, and since then he’s been relatively underwhelming. His career-high 8.0 sacks came in 2017, and he has 16.0 in three years. The Rams traded for him prior to last season’s trade deadline, and won’t be able to afford him in free agency. There may be a huge market for the 24-year-old because young, talented pass rushers aren’t easy to find. However, if the market softens, the 49ers should be there to snatch him up and add depth to their pass rush.
DE Justin Houston, 30
Houston is going to be released by the Chiefs according to reports. The 30-year-old was going to be expensive over the next two years and Kansas City needed some cap relief. Houston posted 9.0 sacks last season and is averaging nearly 10 per season across an eight-year NFL career. His days as an elite pass rusher are probably over, but he’d be an instant upgrade for San Francisco. They should be one of the first to kick tires on him once free agency opens.
