49ers and three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher are a good fit
The San Francisco 49ers are in need of some pass rush help after losing Charles Omenihu and Samson Ekubam in free agency. Sure, the team signed arguably the NFL's top free agent in Javon Hargrave, but the difference, there, is Hargrave plays an entirely different position (defensive tackle) than both Omenihu and Ekubam did (defensive […]
The San Francisco 49ers are in need of some pass rush help after losing Charles Omenihu and Samson Ekubam in free agency.
Sure, the team signed arguably the NFL's top free agent in Javon Hargrave, but the difference, there, is Hargrave plays an entirely different position (defensive tackle) than both Omenihu and Ekubam did (defensive ends). Even if Omenihu slid inside on occasion.
Plus, the 49ers are not shy in admitting that the defensive line, outside of quarterback, is the most important position group on their roster.
"I mean, our goal since we got here is to always build the d-line and for that to be the strength," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recently said at the NFL's Annual Meetings. "… Our goal, always, is to make our d-line as good as it can and that's why we targeted Javon Hargrave right away and we feel very fortunate to get him."
The 49ers are most likely going to draft an edge in the NFL Draft, but it's going to be hard gauging how effective that player (or players) will be considering the 49ers don't pick until No. 99. It wouldn't be wise to leave Omenihu's vacated starting spot to former top-5 draft pick, Clelin Ferrell. 2022 second-rounder Drake Jackson is also in the mix, but again, John Lynch and co. are always about building the defensive line, per their own words.
Fortunately, there's a veteran pass rusher on the market that makes a lot of sense in three-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion, Frank Clark.
The key, here, is Clark has some familiarity with the current version of the 49ers defense. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft and played his first four seasons in a similar defense that Robert Saleh brought with him and installed in San Francisco. Saleh was the Seahawks defensive quality control coach from 2011-2013 and cut his teeth under Pete Carroll, so, Clark would be able to quickly find his footing.
Clark would immediately come in and bolster the 49ers' d-line and he's a great veteran leader who also plays his best during the postseason. As Super Bowl contenders, that should easily catch the 49ers' attention.
The only obstacle that would keep this from happening is cash. The 49ers have just a little more than $2 million in cap space after accounting for the projected cost of their upcoming draft class. Then, they need around $3-$5 million in operating money for stuff like the practice squad and in-season injury replacement signings. So, they don't really have a ton of cash to spend, currently.
However, the 49ers can still create significant room by extending superstar defensive end Nick Bosa and restructuring Christian McCaffrey's contract. Those two moves alone can create at least $15 million in cap space, which would be more than enough to sign Clark, the draft class, and have operating money.
In all, this partnership makes a lot of sense and the 49ers would be very wise to pursue it.
