According to Jane Slater of NFL Network, talks between Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Terrell McClain – or more specifically, his agent – and the San Francisco 49ers are heating up.
"This was a guy that had an injury the previous year, stepped in," Slater said on air. "He was a starter on the defensive line. He's a guy that [Cowboys defensive coordinator] Rod Marinelli absolutely loves. It's my understanding that talks with the 49ers are really heating up and here's why that's intriguing: He'd be reunited with his Houston Texans defensive line coach as well as his former Texans teammate, defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, who recently signed there. So that is interesting."
Jeff Zgonina, the 49ers defensive line coach within Kyle Shanahan's coaching staff, was the defensive line coach for the Texans in 2013, which was McClain's final season with Houston.
NFL teams are able to begin negotiations with the agents of soon-to-be free agents. However, contracts cannot be officially signed until Thursday at 1 p.m. Pacific.
McClain was a third-round draft pick out of South Florida by the Carolina Panthers in 2011. Last season, he had 40 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles through 15 starts. McClain has also spent time with the New England Patriots and, as Slater mentioned, the Houston Texans. He signed with the Cowboys as a free agent in March of 2014.