49ers mailbag: Why not restructure Dee Ford’s contract? Is WR Jerry Jeudy realistic?
We’re entering Week 3 of the quarantine, which means our brains are a little loopy and our bodies are Vitamin D deficient. But there’s good news: It sounds like Northern California is flattening the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic by having people stay at home.
So we’ll encourage you to stay inside by continuing to provide stuff to read about the 49ers including another mailbag. Let’s get to it!
Randy asks: Is Dee Ford on the trade block? Why didn’t we restructure his contract? What could we get?
I haven’t heard Ford is on the block nor would it make much sense to deal him after trading DeForest Buckner. The 49ers would be hard-pressed to replicate Ford and Buckner’s production with replacements. Plus, Ford’s trade value is low after he played just 22 percent of the snaps last season while dealing with knee and hamstring injuries.
Not restructuring Ford’s contract indicates the front office isn’t sold long term. Restructuring his deal would have guaranteed more money beyond the coming season. Instead, the 49ers are keeping their options open beyond 2020 when they could release him and clear $16 million in cap space while taking a $1.6 million dead cap hit in 2021.
In essence, Ford is entering a contract season in 2020 with the team hoping he can be more productive and reliable. If not, the team has an out and could move on. It’s setting up to be another massive season for Ford, who had the best year of his career during the final season of his contract with the Chiefs in 2018.
Lorenzo asks: With little draft capital to trade up, say that other teams jump in front of San Francisco to take the three wide receivers and Javon Kinlaw. What are the next group of targets you think would be a good fit?
It’s impossible to project exactly which players will be available at 13. But in this scenario, it’s likely one of the top tackle prospects would be there to help the 49ers reinforce the offensive line and find an eventual replacement for Joe Staley.
Even more likely, one of the draft’s top quarterbacks would still be on the board, which could set up a trade back for a team wanting to get someone like Justin Herbert or Jordan Love.
Perhaps the 49ers could move back and get a quality receiver (Justin Jefferson? Brandon Aiyuk? Jalen Reagor) or a defensive lineman (Derrick Brown? Jordan Elliott? Yetur Gross-Matos?).
There’s no doubt the 49ers want as many quarterbacks to get taken before 13 as possible to push other players down the board.
NinerBlood49 asks: Do you think there is a real chance the 49ers land Jeudy?
A real chance? Yes. A likely chance? No.
The Raiders (No. 12), Jets (No. 11), Jaguars (No. 9) and Cardinals (No. 8) could all use wideouts but also have other pressing needs at other positions. It’s hard to see Jeudy, arguably the best route runner to come out since Odell Beckham Jr., would make it by all those teams.
But you never know. If four tackles, three defensive lineman, four quarterbacks and a corner go within the top 12 picks, the 49ers could have their choice of receivers at 13. So it’s definitely possible.
Tony asks: Let’s assume Joe Staley is back, are there any tackles in the first round who could play guard for a year and then transition to tackle after he retires?
Yes, we broke them down here.
I think Tristan Wirfs (Iowa) would probably be the best option at right guard. He could move to right tackle allowing once Joe Staley retires allowing Mike McGlinchey to switch sides. Jedrick Wills (Alabama) and Andrew Thomas (Georgia) also look like they could play guard before moving out to tackle.
The first-round tackle who might not fit for San Francisco is Mekhi Becton (Louisville). He’s physically gifted but technically raw. I think the 49ers would prefer someone more polished who could contribute right away. Plus Becton might not be able to play guard where he’ll have to adjust to playing inside, where everything happens much faster.
Trevor asks: Since the offseason program is going to be really short for the rookies, does it make less sense to draft a receiver in the first round and expect them to contribute right away? Receivers do tend to take longer to transition to NFL level.
It’s a fair point but the 49ers have keep the bigger picture in mind. First-round draft picks are about thinking about the next five seasons, not the next five months.
It’s a problem the entire NFL will deal with. So while receivers might struggle to adjust right away, the same could be said for rookie corners.
Shanahan has been good at creating plans to ingratiate rookies. Say the 49ers landed someone like Henry Ruggs III, I’d imagine Shanahan could figure out ways to utilize his speed without overloading him mentally with his thick playbook.
49ers mode asks: Despite all the talk of trading back, let’s assume the 49ers go secondary with pick 31. Who are you taking with that pick?
A few names to keep an eye on here: Trevon Diggs (corner, Alabama), Jaylon Johnson (corner, Utah) Bryce Hall (corner, Virginia), Ashtyn Davis (safety, Cal) and Antoine Winfield Jr. (safety, Minnesota), assuming Xavier McKinney (safety, Alabama) is off the board by then.
Diggs, Johnson and Hall have the physicality and length the 49ers typically covet at cornerback. Davis might be the best safety in terms of fit, but the team just signed Jimmie Ward to a three-year contract.
Winfield is like Ward: He can play multiple positions, including the slot and free safety. But it might make sense to get a slot player with K’Waun Williams entering the final year of his contract plus Ward’s long injury history.
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 4:00 AM.
