NFL Free Agents The San Francisco 49ers Should Still Target

The San Francisco 49ers made a big splash during the early stages of NFL free agency, adding Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave on a four-year, $84 million contract.

Since then, the defending NFC West champs have lost a ton of their own free agents. That includes multiple rotational defensive linemen and the team’s longest tenured player, defensive back Jimmie Ward.

At this point in NFL free agency, San Francisco will be looking for bargain options to fill out depth and need. The good news? This year’s market has been full of one-year, prove-it deals for veterans who have made an impact in the past.

Below, I look at four NFL free agents the San Francisco 49ers should still target.

San Francisco 49ers Take A Chance On Jarvis Landry

These are the types of players I expect general manager John Lynch and Co. to target. A five-time Pro Bowl receiver, Landry is coming off an injury-plagued 2022 season with the New Orleans Saints. He caught 25 passes in nine games.

This comes after an eight-year stretch to open his career in which Landry averaged 86 receptions for 950 yards while hauling in 66 percent of his targets.

Even with Jauan Jennings returning, San Francisco could use another option in the slot to go with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk on the outside. Landry’s ability to provide a consistent target would work well in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. He’d also likely come pretty darn cheap.

49ers Bring Back Kwon Alexander For Depth

The loss of Azeez Al-Shaiir to the Tennessee Titans in free agency hurts from a depth perspective behind Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner. Some believe that the recently re-signed Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles could step into that role. We just have not seen enough of him to come to this conclusion.

Sure, the 49ers are going to add a linebacker in the coming 2023 NFL Draft. However, bringing in someone with a wealth of experience makes sense. A full-time starter pretty much throughout his career, Alexander played in San Francisco from 2019-20. He knows the team’s defensive scheme to a T
T
. The veteran also started 12 games for the New York Jets a season ago. It almost makes too much sense to bring him back should the finances work.

Shaquill Griffin Gets Another Shot

Following the losses of Emmanuel Moseley and Jimmie Ward in free agency, San Francisco has addressed the slot cornerback hole. It signed the underrated Isaiah Oliver in free agency earlier this month. The 49ers also signed a defensive back from the Carolina Panthers in Myles Hartsfield who they believe can play both safety spots and the slot position.

The major hole here is out on the boundary. As of right now, youngster Deommodore Lenoir is slated to start opposite Charvarius Ward. There’s not much behind these two on the depth chart.

Released by the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this offseason, Griffin could make sense as a cheap depth option. Prior to joining Jacksonville back in 2021, the veteran played well during his time with the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. That included Griffin recording three interceptions while yielding a 62.1 completion percentage back in 2020.

San Francisco 49ers Go For Home Run With Jadeveon Clowney

San Francisco’s second returning sack getter from a season ago is 2022 second-round pick Drake Jackson. It lost contributors such as Samson Ebukam, Charles Omenihu and Jordan Willis in free agency.

It goes without saying that the 49ers are going to target a veteran edge guy to help with reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa. Why not take a chance on a player in Clowney who has continued to splash despite being inconsistent?

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Back in 2021 with the Cleveland Browns, this former No. 1 overall pick recorded 19 quarterback hits and nine sacks working opposite Myles Garrett. He could have similar production with Bosa, Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead on the 49ers’ defensive line.

Clowney, 30, might also have to take a short-term contract on the cheap to up his value moving forward. San Francisco would be a great fit for him.