Another one of the 49ers’ free agents will be leaving San Francisco. Linebacker Elijah Lee will join the Detroit Lions according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Lee’s agency confirmed the signing on Twitter.
Lee was a restricted free agent at the start of the offseason, but he was non-tendered by the 49ers which allowed him to explore the market as an unrestricted free agent. San Francisco went on to sign former Cardinals linebacker Joe Walker, spelling the end of Lee’s time with the 49ers.
He initially joined the club as a rookie in 2017 after the Vikings released him following his first training camp. Minnesota selected him in the seventh-round of that year’s draft.
Lee wound up playing in 14 games for the 49ers that first season with virtually all of his playing time coming on special teams. Injuries in 2018 pushed him into a starting linebacker role for five games, but he was back to predominantly special teams work across eight games in 2019 with Dre Greenlaw and Kwon Alexander snagging the starting jobs alongside Fred Warner. In 38 games, Lee made six starts and posted 76 tackles, four tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks.
The 49ers have now seen five of their free agents depart for other clubs. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders joined the Saints. Defensive end Anthony Zettel is now with the Vikings. Defensive tackle Sheldon Day signed with the Colts, and tight end Levine Toilolo made his way to the New York Giants.
