49ers Reportedly Considering Major Roster Shakeup Involving Dee Ford and Kwon Alexander to Create Cap Space
By Mark Powell
We're not quite sure what's going on in John Lynch's head, but we're excited to see the end result.
Just days away from the NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers are reportedly considering a major roster shakeup in the form of trading away some substantial names, including the likes of Dee Ford, Kwon Alexander, Jaquiski Tartt and Marquise Goodwin.
From talking to teams around the league 49ers want to clean up some cap issues and have made Dee Ford and Kwon Alexander along with Goodwin and Tartt available for trade. Will they get takers? Not sure but all four names are on the available list for the right price.
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) April 20, 2020
Such trades would solve the 49ers' cap conundrum for good, but would also rid the reigning NFC champions of substantial talent. It suggests that Lynch and Co. believe in their ability to draft cheaper, younger replacements.
Ford is the most recent of these studs to make a Pro Bowl appearance, but that was in 2018 with Kansas City. In his first (and perhaps only) year with the 49ers, he started only two games and racked up 6.5 sacks.
The #49ers have made the following players available for trade, per @mlombardiNFL:
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) April 20, 2020
- DE Dee Ford
- LB Kwon Alexander
- S Jaquiski Tartt
- WR Marquise Goodwin
The team is light on draft capital and strapped for cash, but Ford, Alexander and Tartt all on the block is unexpected.
All four players are under 30, meaning that they have significant mileage left in the tank. Goodwin would likely return the least overall value, considering San Francisco can cut the 29-year-old and save over $3.5 million.
As currently constructed, the 49ers are estimated to have about $11 million in cap space, per Spotrac, but that number will decrease significantly after signing their draft class, which includes two first-rounders.
Despite featuring the most talented defense -- and overall roster -- in the NFC, the 49ers could be in for further shakeup in the 2020 offseason, even after trading away DeForest Buckner just a month ago.