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 seizure 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 High-Danville) 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.” DESHAUN WATSON’S WORTH >> Former 49ers bust O.J. Simpson is pondering
how the Niners could ac- quire Deshaun Watson — or Dak Prescott — as their next quarterback. We relay Simpson’s plea merely to remind everyone the dangers of overpaying in a trade.
The 49ers unloaded five draft picks to bring Simpson, a San Francisco native, home in a 1978 trade with Buffalo. The cost: a first-round pick, two second-rounders, a third and a fourth. The 49ers went 2-14 the ensuing two seasons as a broken-down Simpson closed out his career; and, 15 years later, a double homicide made Simpson infamous far beyond the sports world.
Watson is heading into the prime of his career, and the cost to acquire him should be too overbearing for the 49ers, who could be outbid by several teams with more draft equity, assuming the Texans ever do cave to Watson’s trade request. It’s a huge price for the 49ers to swallow for a quarterback they bypassed in the 2017 draft.
The cost of acquiring Steve Young from Tampa Bay in 1987? A secondround pick and a fourthrounder, plus $1 million. What a steal.
CARSON WENTZ WATCH >> By trading for Carson Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles, the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday agreed to part with a pair of high draft picks, while presumably taking on a contract that pays roughly $25 million annually the next four years.
That value for Wentz should further convince the 49ers it would be idiotic to outright release Jimmy Garoppolo (for nothing in return) if they acquired Watson or another quarterback. The Colts are giving up a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional second-round choice that can/ should become a 2022 firstrounder (if Wentz plays at least 75 percent of the snaps or 70 percent with a playoff berth, per NFL Network).
Garoppolo’s salary is roughly $25 million each of the next two years. His (hometown) Bears and his original team, the New England Patriots, should be happy to nab him, if he waives his no-trade clause.
Garoppolo, as usual, is
keeping a low profile. He’s not on social media. He doesn’t bite at rumors. He’s not going around complaining about his protection, like Russell Wilson. He keeps his head down and works, presumably.
Count on Garoppolo, 29, remaining the 49ers’ starter next season, when, by the way, they’ll face the Colts and the Bears as he tries to improve on his 24-8 record as a starter. Wentz, 28, is 35-32-1 as the Eagles’ starter, and has gone 2-0 against the 49ers, including a fourth-quarter comeback last October.
ROOKIE CORNERBACK CREW? >> With their top cornerbacks all slated for free agency, could the 49ers go really young, as in a rookie tandem? It famously worked best in 1981 with Ronnie Lott (first round) and Eric Wright (second round), plus safety Carlton Williamson (third round).
Then again, the 2000 49ers used first- and second-round picks on cornerbacks Ahmed Plummer and Jason Webster, only to see that combo fizzle.
Eight different starting cornerback tandems were used amid last season’s injury carnage. Slated for free agency are Verrett, Richard Sherman, K’Waun Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Moseley, the latter of whom remains a restricted free agent while a few others already have
re-signed.
Sherman has stated since early December he’s unlikely to return and, connecting the dots, perhaps the Compton native heads south to finish his career in Los Angeles with the Chargers or Rams.
DEE FORD’S FUTURE >> Defensive end Dee Ford’s 49ers future — or lack thereof — is their most intriguing financial situation. He’s due $15 million in 2021, and $11.6 million is guaranteed
for injury. He sure doesn’t seem healthy. Neck and back issues in Week 2 effectively ended his season and prompted concerns for his career.
Either the injury sends him into retirement, or maybe he comes back on an incentive-laden deal. When he’s on the field, he’s dynamic, but you can say that about so many guys, and last year the Niners had to use a team-record 84 players.