Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports is reporting that the San Francisco 49ers are among the teams interested in Kansas City Chiefs DT Dontari Poe. The Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons are just two of the other teams also showing interest, according to La Canfora.
Several teams pushing for DT Dontari Poe - Colts, Falcons, 49ers among them. Quite possible he opts for 1 year deal; hit market again in '18
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 9, 2017
The Chiefs declined to use the franchise tag on Poe, despite signing safety Eric Berry to a long-term deal. Franchising Poe would have committed Kansas City to pay him $13.4 million in 2017.
The big nose tackle is seen as a better run defender than a pass rusher, thus the mediocre numbers in the sack column. The 49ers defense ranked last in the league against the run last season. In addition to ranking last in points and yards allowed, the defense surrendered a league-high 176.3 rushing yards per game. No team in 49ers franchise history had given up more rushing yards than the 2016 squad.
Poe, who is just 26-years old, has missed just two games over his career due to injury. He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection -- in 2013 and 2014 -- and combined for 10.5 sacks over those two seasons. Poe has 200 tackles, 13 sacks, 12 passes defended, and two forced fumbles over his career. Among interior defenders, Poe played the seventh-most defensive snaps (876) according to Pro Football Focus. Playing a large number of snaps is a trend that has been constant throughout his career.
Poe was a first-round selection out of Memphis by the Chiefs in the 2012 NFL Draft. You may remember Poe throwing a touchdown pass on offense last season in the closing minutes of a game against the Denver Broncos. He has two other touchdowns on offense, both of which were scored on running plays in goal-line situations.