Could Jets, Raiders snag Juszczyk, Verrett?
It’s been a year since Tom Brady and the 49ers pondered his Bay Area homecoming. Fear not, we’re not revisiting that fateful decision and his latest Lombardi Trophy capture in Tampa Bay.
Instead, consider this: Do players truly yearn to play for their childhood team, or does that sentimentality merely help their leverage in free agency, which begins next month?
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk, one of the 49ers’ top free agents, grew up a New York Jets fan in Ohio.
He got hooked on them playing the NFL QB Club video game on Nintendo 64 with his brothers. He repeatedly read Wayne Chrebet’s 1999 autobiography, detailing an unlikely journey to NFL stardom.
Juszczyk says it would be cool to play for his favorite childhood team, but that particular allure won’t carry too much weight in his free agency decision.
The new-look Jets sure could use Juszczyk. He’d reunite with coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, former 49ers assistants. LaFleur figures to run the same system Juszczyk flourished in as a perennial Pro Bowler his past four seasons with the 49ers.
To guess what will steer Juszczyk’s next move is to stereotype what motivates most NFL players: a team that blends the best shot at a Super Bowl ring, a thriving culture and a financial windfall. The 49ers could fit that bill, to a certain price point, for Juszczyk remaining an instrumental role with his versatility.
Cornerback Jason Verrett is another 49ers free agent whose “childhood team” could prove tempting. Growing up in Fairfield, he and his family used to drive to see the Raiders in Oakland with their season tickets.
The Raiders used high draft picks on Damon Arnette and Trayvon Mullen but could use Verrett to push them in a defensive makeover, and while his 2020 comeback eases some (not all) injury concerns, he should have plenty of suitors, including the 49ers.
Verrett and Juszczyk both ended last season voicing their desire to remain with the 49ers, who are crunched for cap room.
Two of the 49ers’ potential outside targets this coming month could lead to Bay Area homecomings: tight end Zach Ertz (Stanford, Monte Vista HighDanville) and center Alex Mack (Cal) would fit nicely in the offense.
See, it’s a connect-thedots, home-sweet-home world, until opportunities arise elsewhere to put down new roots. Surely the Green Bay Packers think Wisconsin native J.J. Watt wants to come home, but as the recently released Houston Texans star tweeted Wednesday: “Free agency is wild.”