49ers keep Verrett, add pass rusher
Samson Ebukam doesn’t have Dee Ford’s pedigree, but he appears to have something Ford has lacked in his two seasons with the 49ers: durability.
On Monday, the 49ers agreed to terms with Ebukam, 25, an outside linebacker with the Rams who hasn’t missed a game in his four NFL seasons while collecting 14 sacks and six forced fumbles as a situational pass rusher. Ebukam, a 2017 fourthround pick, will sign a twoyear deal with a maximum value of $13.5 million, NFL Network reported.
The move was largely inspired by Ford’s injury issues. The Pro Bowl pass rusher missed the final 15 games in 2020 with a back injury and was due to receive $11.6 million guaranteed if he couldn’t pass a physical on April 1. The 49ers clearly don’t believe he will be
healthy enough to do so. They have restructured Ford’s contract to pay him $24 million over the next two seasons, according to NFL Network.
The restructure will create salary cap space for 2021. Ford was scheduled to count $20 million against the cap. And he was set to earn $47.5 million in base salary in the final three years of the fiveyear, $85 million deal he signed after the 49ers acquired him for a second pick in 2019. Ford has since played just 272 snaps and missed 20 games with the 49ers.
The moves were part of the first day of the NFL’s legaltampering period. Teams can agree to terms with players before contracts can be officially signed Wednesday, the first day of the new league year.
And the 49ers went heavy on defense. Besides adding Ebukam, they retained cornerback Jason Verrett, 29, with a oneyear extension worth $5.5 million.
The deal rewarded Verrett for a comeback season after he’d fought pain throughout his career. Verrett played in just six games from 201619 and considered retirement after serious leg injuries that included a torn Achilles and torn ACL.
After earning a $910,000 base salary last year, he cashed in after consistently flashing the ability in 2020 that made him a firstround pick of the Chargers in 2014 and a Pro Bowl alternate in 2015. In 13 games, Verrett had two interceptions and seven pass breakups. Quarterbacks had a passer rating of 76.2 and averaged 6.1 yards an attempt on the 75 passes thrown in his direction.
Verrett’s oneyear deal was inspired by his extensive medical file, which has caused him to miss 73 of 112 games in his sevenyear career. The 49ers and other teams were hesitant to offer a longterm deal with significant guaranteed money
for a player who has played more than six games in a season just twice. If Verrett can prove 2020 wasn’t an aberration but the start of a latecareer trend, he will earn more money in 2022.
Still, the relatively modest investment could be considered a bit of a gamble for the 49ers, who led the NFL with 32 injuredreserve transactions last season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged in January that they had taken risks by adding players with injury histories and in too many cases hadn’t “gotten the reward.” Shanahan suggested the 49ers would place a bigger emphasis on durability in their player evaluations.
“It doesn’t mean that you never take a risk again — I think that’d be an overcorrection,” Shanahan said. “You have to take some risks to get to the top in this league.”
Given that, it’s notable that Ebukam has played in all 70 career games, including postseason.
Ebukam had 41⁄2 sacks in each of the past two seasons
when he played 36% of the defensive snaps and 51%, respectively. His contract — and Ford’s uncertain future — strongly suggest he’ll see more playing time with the 49ers. General manager John Lynch said in January that the 49ers were “seeking clarity” on Ford’s health.
Last year, when Nick Bosa and Ford combined to miss 29 games, only one 49er had more than 31⁄2 sacks. Defensive Kerry Hyder, an unrestricted free agent who had a teamhigh 81⁄2 sacks, is unlikely to return given the addition of Ebukam.
⏩ 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne reportedly agreed with the Patriots on a threeyear deal worth $22.5 million. His exit leaves the 49ers in need of a slot receiver. Bourne had career highs in catches (49) and yards (667) and scored two touchdowns in 2020.