The Kansas City Chiefs placed the franchise tag on linebacker Dee Ford at the cost of $15.4 million for 2019, preventing him from hitting free agency on Wednesday. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, they were, however, willing to listen to trade discussions for the 27-year-old defensive player.
The 49ers might be interested.
San Francisco is one of at least two teams which has "expressed interest" in Ford, according to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The other team is the Green Bay Packers.
Two #Chiefs notes: 1. They seem to have a market for franchised pass-rusher Dee Ford, with the #Packers and #49ers expressing interest, I'm told. 2. They are hosting FA RB Carlos Hyde and there is a good chance they sign him, if all goes well with the physical, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2019
Rapoport has reported that the Chiefs might be willing to part with Ford for a second-round pick as the team shifts from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3.
The 49ers are looking to address their need at pass rusher this offseason and might have shown interest in Ford had he hit free agency.
"I think that's a need for us," general manager John Lynch said in Indianapolis during the Combine. "It's a need for a lot of people. When you say a need, you usually think you're really bad. I just look at it as that's just one piece that's missing from an area where we can become a tough team to deal with."
The Chiefs made Ford, who played college football at Auburn, the No. 23 overall selection in 2014. He recorded 13 sacks to go along with his 55 combined tackles and league-high seven forced fumbles this past season. Ford has registered 137 combined tackles, 30.5 sacks, six passes defensed, and nine forced fumbles during his five NFL seasons.