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NFL Free Agency 2019: 3 targets for each team

By William Schneiderhan

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 10: Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back Le'Veon Bell (26) looks on during the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 10, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Photo by Mark Alberti/ Icon Sportswire)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 10: Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back Le'Veon Bell (26) looks on during the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 10, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Photo by Mark Alberti/ Icon Sportswire) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 30: George Kittle #85, DeForest Buckner #99, Richard Sherman #25 and Joe Staley #74 of the San Francisco 49ers head to midfield for the coin flip prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at the LA Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Rams defeated the 49ers 48-32. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 30: George Kittle #85, DeForest Buckner #99, Richard Sherman #25 and Joe Staley #74 of the San Francisco 49ers head to midfield for the coin flip prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at the LA Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Rams defeated the 49ers 48-32. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers took a minor step back in their progression in 2018. Jimmy Garoppolo tore his ACL early in the season, which left the team in a hole. The team enters the offseason with over $74 million in available cap, which is the sixth-most in the NFL and they will look to continue to take steps forward.

Dante Fowler Jr., EDGE

DeForest Buckner led the charge for the 49ers on the defensive line. He had 12 sacks and 20 quarterback hits, which resulted in a Pro Bowl selection. Some other players had nice seasons like Cassius Marsh and Ronald Blair, but an edge-rusher is still something the defense needs.

Fowler seems to be the perfect 4-3 edge-rusher, a scheme that team defensive coordinator Robert Saleh runs. He can play as a down lineman, but he can also line up as an outside linebacker. A poor’s man Jadeveon Clowney in a sense.

The 24-year old had four sacks in 2018, splitting time between the Jaguars and Rams. In 2017, he had a career-high eight sacks to go with 10 quarterback hits.

Adrian Amos, S

Pro Football Focus ranked the Niners’ secondary as the worst in the NFL after Week 17. So yes, much is needed in order to improve such an abysmal unit. Richard Sherman played decently at corner, but the rest of the secondary, corners and safeties, was very unimpressive.

In a complete 180-turn, Adrian Amos was playing on the top-ranked secondary after Week 17 with the Chicago Bears. It seems unlikely the Bears can afford to retain him, so the 49ers should bring the safety to town. Pro Football Focus gave him an 82.7 rating, as he had two interceptions and 73 combined tackles in 16 games for the playoff Bears.

Ronald Darby, CB

As mentioned above, Sherman was probably the team’s best corner last season. He was banged up but played well following the major injury he suffered the season before, and for being 30-years old.

Adding another corner to the mix would take pressure, and reps, off Sherman, which makes Darby an option. The past two seasons have not been nice to Darby, as he has only been able to suit up for 17 games. But in that limited time, he has still intercepted four passes and defended 21 passes.

Darby’s current market value is $13.4 million a year, which seems high for such an often-injured player. That price may come down, and the 49ers should be all over him.

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