One of Eric Weddle‘s many suitors came from the NFC East. The Redskins inquired about the safety, according to NBC Sports Washington’s Ben Standig, but Weddle preferred the Rams’ proposal. Washington may be a spot for one of the many starter-caliber safeties on this year’s market, with the team having waived D.J. Swearinger and with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix‘s contract having expired.
Here is the latest from Washington, along with other NFC teams, with the legal tampering period less than 48 hours away.
- The Redskins’ Case Keenum trade frees them up to make more competitive offers to non-quarterbacks in free agency, instead of seeing Teddy Bridgewater or Tyrod Taylor proposals complicate the team’s plan. However, Washington is still expected to add at this spot this offseason, and Standig notes it won’t be a Josh Johnson reunion — barring a Colt McCoy departure. Another Johnson pact was previously mentioned as a possibility, but that may no longer be in the cards. Washington profiles as a possible quarterback destination in this year’s draft, but in picking at No. 15 and unlikely to trade up, this may be one of the teams that waits for 2020’s higher-profile group of quarterbacks.
- The rumors of Markus Golden hitting the market look accurate, with AZCardinals.com’s Mike Jurecki tweeting the veteran edge rusher is set for free agency. The Cardinals and Golden engaged in talks earlier this offseason, but nothing of consequence emerged from those discussions. While Golden stands to benefit from the franchise tags handed out to the top-tier pass rushers who could have hit the market, and Jurecki posits a possible Golden reunion with former Cards DC James Bettcher via Giants signing, the former second-round pick has not been productive since the 2016 season. Golden’s ACL tear in 2017 sidetracked his career, halting the momentum he’d created with a 12.5-sack 2016.
- Brad Childress may be ready to circle back to the Bears. Affiliated with Matt Nagy‘s first Bears staff briefly, Childress then bolted for the Alliance of American Football. But he did not last until the AAF’s opener. However, Childress looks set to rejoin Nagy in Chicago, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweeting the former Vikings HC is expected to serve in an offensive consulting role under Nagy. Childress and Nagy worked together with the Chiefs. Childress also retired after the 2017 season, but that turned out to be quite short-lived.
- The 49ers still want to bring back Jimmie Ward, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, but it doesn’t appear their interest goes beyond the one-year offer they were dangling for the 2014 first-round pick. Ward was thought to be on the outs in San Francisco, but the team did not receive much consistency from its secondary last season. San Francisco’s staff graded the versatile defensive back as the team’s best secondary cog, Maiocco adds, prior to his season-ending injury in November, Maiocco adds.
- The contract the 49ers gave kicker Jonathan Brown is a two-year deal, the team announced. San Francisco used its franchise tag on Robbie Gould. Brown was with the Bengals during the past three training camps but has yet to play in a regular-season game.
Either Jonathan Brown isn’t a kicker or Jon Lynch doesn’t know what he is doing
He could do kickoffs or be placed on the practice squad for this season then replace Gould
Idk, Brown has nailed all of his pre-season kicks thus far, and looks like he could potentially be Gould’s replacement next season. Brown will likely see some time in the pre-season, he can pick up some tips and techniques from Gould, then he will get waived, and the 49ers will either sign him to their practice squad, or look to re-sign him next year..
Even so, the real question is who is going to be the 49ers new punter this year!?! Pinion hasn’t really been all that consistent during his tenure with the 49ers, and last year he was pretty much either slightly below average or worse in just about every statistical punting category…
Don’t know if this means anything, but a buddy of mine just ran into Ndamakong Suh at the Minneapolis airport. He sent me a pic of him shaking his hand.. it’s legitimate.
If Suh was dressed as a baggage handler then I guess he isn’t too confident of getting signed as a free agent.
I thought the 49ers were looking at punters not kickers ?
It’s just an early depth move for the pre-season. Nothing more then that, but even still, don’t sleep on Brown, he’s a pretty good kicker…
Gould to Bears for a 7th smart move by Lynch
Gould is a free agent not under contract with any team, isn’t he?
He got tag by the 49ers
Nooo thank you, Gould is money as a kicker. If the 49ers are hoping to contend, then their kicking game better be as reliable as possible. And reliable is Gould’s middle name…Well, it probably sounds better as his first name, but you get the point..lol
I don’t think the 49ers are close to contending. If they could get a draft pick or some other asset for Gould from someone, I’m sure Lynch will pounce.
The 49ers need to attack free agency this season, and put a good portion of their cap space to good use. Sign a punter, add a better pass-blocking guard, sign Earl Thomas, sign a veteran edge rusher to mentor either Bosa or Josh Allen, and then scoop up CJ Mosley to have alongside Warner, so the 49ers can once again have a formidable pairing and two dynamic ILBs…
Obviously, that would be an absolute best-case scenario, but it is certainly doable for Lynch, Shanny, and Saleh!! I really just hope they can pull the trigger.
For Saleh’s defense to be successful it’s paramount that they get better edge rushers, another experienced and high IQ ILB, and an intelligent and versatile single high safety. By signing a distinguished vet, and drafting either Bosa or Allen, it should instantly improve their pass rush, and by signing Mosley and Thomas those four players would instantly significantly improve the 49ers defense!! Then, and only then, would the 49ers have everything they need for Saleh’s system to be successful. As of now, Saleh simply doesn’t have enough impact players at those key positions for his scheme.
Then, if they still weren’t able to significantly improve and ultimately get the job done, the blame would have to fall on Saleh…A lot of 49ers fans wanted Saleh gone this season, but you’d be hard pressed to find any DC that can be successful with such a young roster, countless injuries, and on top of it all having a roster that has major holes in the most pivotal positions he needs to successfully run his scheme..Without that high IQ free safety, it allows a lot less room for error and it leads to a lot more communication errors. This was an obvious case last season, as the 49ers secondary had countless communication and assignment miscues. Also, without having any reliable edge rushers, this out even more pressure on the 49ers DB’s, especially in man coverage. Last but certainly olnot least, without Warner having a decent partner at ILB, it tends to lead to those 1-3 yard runs turning into 4-6 yard runs, and over the course of the game that will break the back of a defense as they ultimately get down and worn out.
Like I said previously it is imperative that Saleh, Lynch, and Shanny address these needs in the draft and especially free agency. Because again, if they don’t, Saleh is likely to lose his job, and, regardless how well the offense performs, the 49ers will likely be looking at best a 6-7 win year…