Previously selected in the first round and mentioned as a possible 49ers free agent
We discussed a prospective free-agent edge rusher who could improve the San Francisco 49ers pass rush on Thursday.
The Niners value the trenches on this side of the ball more than any other position on the squad, so the defensive line will be a recurring theme.
The top free-agent edge rushers and their prospective landing locations were highlighted by Pro Football Focus, and the 49ers were given two possibilities. One was a prior 2018 NFL Draft pick that was chosen among the top 15 overall:
If he doesn’t return in 2023, Davenport might be the newest student at the Kris Kocurek career rehabilitation school.
Given his stature, which allows him to line up in the interior, he has a profile akin to that of Erik Armstead.
The 49ers love to purchase low on previous first-round picks, and this is an interesting example of one of their favorite defensive lineman deals.
Davenport received a true pass-set pass-rush grade of 75.7 in 2023 from PFF, eight points more than McKinley’s.
Furthermore, his pass-rush victory percentage was 15.5%. In the same areas, Chase Young received scores of 72.7 and 14.7 percent, respectively.
Kocurek’s favorite thing to work on is reclamation projects. Prior to the 2023 season, Davenport had a long history of injuries, and he was unable to play during the second part of the campaign. His season was cut short in Week 4 by a high-ankle sprain.
He also skipped weeks 1 and 3. Only once in the previous four seasons did Davenport play in more than 11 games. In addition, he recently completed a prove-it contract worth more than $13 million.
Once he was healthy at last in 2023, Okwara was quite efficient in the latter stages of the season. As the team’s designated pass rusher, he may provide some juice.
Value players like Okwara are quite sensible, even though San Francisco may not have much money to spend.
Of the 66 snaps in the NFC Championship, Okwara only played twelve. He earned a 45.5 PFF grade and did not feel any pressure. That’s not exactly a confidence booster.
Young and Clelin Ferrell are free agents without restrictions. The 49ers will need to acquire more depth, but we already mentioned Davenport’s history of injuries, and Okwara’s arm ailment from the preseason kept him out of action for the first four games of the season.
In the three games before the NFC Championship, Okwara played 34, 41, and 38 plays; yet, that was the most he has played since Week 5.
Both players would therefore be reasonably priced, but they wouldn’t necessarily be an improvement or more dependable.
