49ers have a deal in place to acquire Dee Ford

The 49ers make a big move as the new league year is set to begin, but it’s not for a free agent. Instead, it’s a trade. 

The 49ers are acquiring star pass-rusher Dee Ford from the Chiefs in exchange for a 2020 second-round pick. Dee Ford is expected to sign a deal of 5 years and around $87.5M with the 49ers at the outset of the trade. The trade can’t be finalized until 4 p.m. Wednesday. 

Ford, 27, was placed under the franchise tag for the Chiefs. However, a trade always seemed possible with the Chiefs turning over the defense. Now the trade comes into fruition. 

Ford has had an up and down career, but he was one of the best pass-rushers in the league last season, collecting 13 sacks and 29 QB hits with seven forced fumbles in 2018. Pro Football Focus rated him as the best pass-rusher in the league in 2018-19 and the 11th best edge defender overall. 

And this is a welcome site for the 49ers. Their two top edge rusher last year, Cassius Marsh and Ronald Blair, each had 5.5 sacks last year (Marsh’s were very concentrated as well). So Ford had more sacks alone than those two combined. The team was in desperate need of a pass-rusher as they were one of the worst teams at that last year. Getting one of the best in the game is a major improvement.

But there are definitely questions about Ford. Like the inconsistencies I mentioned earlier. He’s had a good year, some bad or mediocre years, and a great year all mixed into a string of mixed results. The former 1st-round pick has major potential and seemed to finally realize it last year. The 49ers are betting big-time that he does it again and again as he is in the midst of the prime of his career. 

Yes, the 49ers gave up a lot in a second round pick, but that pick will come in 2020, a pick that should be lower than the 36th overall pick they have this year. So I do not mind the trade compensation one bit for a guy of his caliber.

The money they gave him is very similar to Trey Flowers’ contract in Detroit. Perhaps it is a lot for a guy with inconsistent production, but they had to pay for his current production and the position he plays. Besides, I am sure Paraag Marathe worked his contract magic as usual to make it look better than the pure average per year money looks now.

The best part about this trade is that the 49ers still should have just over $30M to work with in cap space to make further moves and they get to keep their second rounder this year, which is a high second-rounder, since they are trading their second-rounder next year instead. Dee Ford is an excellent add, but 49ers still have plenty of resources to improve this team even more.