LB Kendricks spurns 49ers for NFC rival amid free-agency flurry
SANTA CLARA >> The 49ers' defensive makeover this offseason has featured a lot of comings and goings, in more ways than one.
A month after Steve Wilks was fired as defensive coordinator, this week's start to free agency has brought sweeping changes to their famed defensive front. But the most captivating move came Wednesday afternoon: Linebacker Eric Kendricks spurned them for the Dallas Cowboys, 13 hours after news broke that he had agreed to a one-year pact with the 49ers, according to ESPN.
Kendricks, a nine-year veteran, figured to work well alongside All-Pro Fred Warner and, at the very least, provide cover ahead of the comeback of Dre Greenlaw, who sustained a torn Achilles tendon in last month's Super Bowl.
But a linebacker jilting the 49ers, for their longtime NFC rival, is not what will change the 49ers' defensive fortunes.
When it comes to change, look no further than their defensive line.
The 49ers released nineyear veteran Arik Armstead — he is a post-June 1 designee to spread out his salary cap hit over the next two years — and they found a potential replacement in Maliek Collins, who they'll acquire from the Houston Texans for a seventh-round draft pick.
Those moves followed two-year deals hatched earlier this week with defensive ends Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott. Kevin Givens' free agency has also led him back on a one-year deal, ESPN reported.
That trio and Javon Hargrave will be counted on to help offset the exits of Armstead and Javon Kinlaw, a 2020 first-round pick who has reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with the New York Jets.
All those defensive moves are intended to recharge a 49ers defense under new coordinator Nick Sorensen, whose promotion last month from passgame specialist still hasn't been formally announced by the 49ers.
Offensively, the 49ers' biggest news thus far is the loss of backup quarterback Sam Darnold to the Minnesota Vikings, and the restructuring of fullback Kyle Juszczyk's contract, which frees up $1.75 million of salary cap room, ESPN reported.
When the NFL's fiscal year officially opened at 1 p.m., the 49ers confirmed the release of Armstead, who played in the playoffs after tearing his meniscus in December and missing the final five regular- season games. They also announced backup quarterback Brandon Allen was re- signed on a one-year deal, offensive tackle Colton McKivitz signed a one-year extension and special teams ace George Odum received a two-year extension.
Armstead's exit comes with a post-June 1 designation, according to a team source, thus the 49ers will save $18 million on this year's salary cap; he will count $10.3 million in dead money this year and $15.5 million next year, Spotrac. com reported.
The 49ers' defense was good last season, but there were obvious issues with the run defense. The 49ers had the fourth-worst conversion rate in short-yardage situations: a 21.4% run defense success rate, according to the NFL's NextGen Stats.
he audible from Clovis native Kendricks, 32, gave the Cowboys their first acquisition of free agency, and it reunited him with Dallas defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who was the Vikings' coach in Kendricks' first seven seasons there.
Oren Burks and Demetrius Flannigan- Fowles, both of whom helped fill in after Greenlaw's stunning exit in the Super Bowl, are free agents.
Collins (6- foot- 2, 310 pounds) turns 29 next month. He arrives with two years left on his contract, calling for salaries of $8 million and $9.5 million. A 2016 third-round draft pick, he played his first four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys then one with the Raiders before spending the past three with the Texans.