The 49ers are trading for Chiefs franchise player, outside linebacker Dee Ford, who is coming off a career year but the price isn’t that expensive.
The 49ers are adding to their defensive arsenal with the reported trade for Chiefs franchise player, Dee Ford as trade season in the NFL continues to deliver eye-popping headlines.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, San Fransisco and Kansas City are finalizing a deal that would send star pass rusher Ford to the 49ers for a 2020 second round pick.
The Chiefs slapped the franchise tag on Ford at $15.4 million in 2019 after a career year but were never going to give him the long-term contract he desires. Enter San Francisco, who, despite investing multiple first round picks into its defensive line in recent years, wasn’t satisfied with their group of pass rushers.
Rather than waiting to address the need in the draft with Nick Bosa or Josh Allen, it seems that the 49ers found their guy as they now attempt to work out a new contract for the former Auburn star.
After an excellent 2018 season with 13 sacks and 55 tackles, Ford has earned a payday. The 27-year-old simply will cost too much for the Chiefs to keep around, which they surely wish they could do.
This is a great move for the 49ers who can have some flexibility at the No. 2 pick if they choose to pass on Bosa or Allen and prefer to look at other positions, such as defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
For the Chiefs, the second round pick in 2020 won’t do anything to help them rebuild a defense that also lost Justin Houston. But considering Ford wasn’t much of a player before his contract year, the Chiefs are gambling that they can find a cost-effective replacement in free agency or through the draft.