Ziggy Ansah and the 49ers might be close to a deal, which is bad news for the NFC West
By Mike Luciano
Ziggy Ansah might join the San Francisco 49ers.
Jadeveon Clowney wasn’t the only disappointing Seattle Seahawks pass rusher that took a long time to sign a contract for the 2020 season, as former No. 5 overall pick Ziggy Ansah remains unemployed after a subpar campaign. Ansah’s best chance at signing a deal before 2020 might be Seattle’s arch-nemesis.
Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers, who took a risk on former first-round bust Kevin White this offseason, worked out Ansah recently, and there is optimism that a deal between the two parties could materialize at some point in the near future.
Help on the way for the #49ers? Sources say free-agent Ziggy Ansah, one of the top pass-rushers available, will be in SF today, going through COVID-19 testing in preparation for a workout Tuesday. His second visit to the #49ers, a sign of their interest.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 13, 2020
Ziggy Ansah is looking to rebuild his value after a poor season with the Seahawks
Ansah was picked fifth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions after a standout final season at BYU. Ansah repaid Detroit’s faith in him by recording 44 sacks in his first five seasons with the Lions while being named a Pro Bowler in 2015. After totaling just four sacks in 2018, Ansah signed with Seattle to pump up his value, but he managed just 2.5 sacks and 18 tackles while serving mostly as a backup.
San Francisco is already spoiled for choice when it comes to pass rushers given the presence of Nick Bosa and Dee Ford on the edge, but there is no such thing as too many good pass rushers. Buying low on Ansah could help San Francisco’s already elite pass rush firmly cement themselves as the league’s best if he returns to the form he showcased in Detroit.
Ziggy Ansah is in SF getting ready for a workout next week! This would be an awesome landing spot for Ziggy. He could play along side fellow former cougar, Fred Warner. https://t.co/R10pou4VdH
— Cougs in the Pros 🤙🏼 (@BYUpros) September 13, 2020
Ansah’s lack of production over the last two seasons has clearly scared some teams away, but Robert Saleh thinks that he can rehabilitate the former Lion star and make him an integral part of their pass rush rotation. It’s a bit of a risk given the injury concerns, but Ansah still has plenty left in the tank.