The San Francisco are undergoing change this offseason, with the team parting with some key players. As a result, the defensive line has been hit pretty hard and general manager John Lynch has some work to do.
The Niners need help at multiple spots upfront, whether that be along the edge or in the interior. Further, San Fran needs to add players who can make an immediate impact if the team hopes to compete in 2025.
With that in mind, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton thinks the Niners are a fit for veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, who was cut by the Detroit Lions.
“In 10 seasons, he has been productive in even- and odd-man defensive fronts. So, he’s a potential fit in different systems. The 11th-year veteran can find a new home with a playoff contender that needs a boost on the edge, like the Lions did last season,” Moton wrote.
Despite being long in the tooth (33 in September), Smith was still quite productive in 2024, with the veteran tallying nine sacks between his stints with the Cleveland Browns and Lions, who acquired him at the trade deadline. Four of those sacks came with Detroit.
It was a bit odd to see the Lions cut Smith. After all, they already had a need along the edge and it’s not like the $11 million or so Smith was set to make is an outlandish figure for a guy who nearly had double-digit sacks last season.
Nevertheless, one team’s trash is another team’s treasure and Smith would be a fit in San Francisco. As Moton points out, Smith is a chameleon who can fit in any alignment, and he can give the 49ers an immediate difference-maker.
In terms of what Smith could command on the open market is concerned, we figure he’ll land a one-year pact around $10 million. That’s perfect for a team in transition like the Niners, as they can bring Smith aboard and it won’t impact their long-term goal of getting their financial house in order.
Smith would likely have interest in joining the Niners, also. Granted, they did miss the playoffs in 2024, but this is still a very talented roster that can compete for big things in 2025. Adding Smith would help them do that.
