Fansided

Dee Ford trade rumors: Dolphins, Giants among potential suitors

By Kelly Thompson

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Dee Ford #55 of the San Francisco 49ers runs onto the field prior to the start of the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Dee Ford #55 of the San Francisco 49ers runs onto the field prior to the start of the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next

With the news that the San Fransisco 49ers are shopping edge rusher Dee Ford, we take a look at the five best landing spots for the former Pro Bowler.

Michael Lombardi of The Athletic reported Monday that the San Fransisco 49ers had made pass rusher Dee Ford available on the trade block.

Why? An attempt to acquire more draft capital in this week’s annual selection meeting; and to clear cap space on their roster. The move comes as a surprising admission of failure on a trade the team just made last offseason to acquire the former Kansas City Chiefs first-round pick.

Ford was a first-round pick for the Chiefs in 2014. Kansas City picked up his fifth-year option before the ’18 season and left him a chance to earn a big contract and prove he could stay healthy. He did just that, notching 13 sacks and making his first Pro Bowl appearance.

Despite that effort, general manager Brett Veach was still unwilling to give the former Auburn Tiger a large extension, placed the franchise tag on Ford, and ultimately shipped him to the 49ers for their 2020 second-round pick.

San Fransisco gave Ford the massive deal he was looking for, to the tune of five years and $87.5 million; and secured one of the most frightening defensive lines in decades. But, the defending NFC champions are making changes.

The 49ers seem prepared to move on. Ford’s issue has not been ability, but in availability as Ford missed five games in 2019 for San Fransisco, and 18 games total in his six-year career. With the Chiefs back injuries hampered him, and with the 49ers last year it was a nagging hamstring injury.

So, while the 49ers should find suitors for Ford, who has flashed immense talent in his six years in the league, but are unlikely to recoup their second-round pick investment. Taking a loss on draft pick after only one year is a clear concession of failure on the trade.

But some team will take a chance on Ford, who is most likely?

Pick Analysis. 5. player. 53. Scouting Report. AFC. North. Cleveland Browns

The Browns make sense is because they need a situational pass rusher to pair with Myles Garrett. This would add an extra element to the Browns defense which is stacked with talent and looking to tie it all together in 2020.

Cleveland has two third-round picks and could part with the latter, 97th-overall, to acquire Ford. The money here is an issue, and the 49ers may have to eat some salary to consummate this trade.