Update: Dee-to-49ers trade is a done deal. Read the report here.
Hot on the heels of the Beckham-to-Cleveland news, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network is reporting that the San Francisco 49ers are "deep in talks" with the Kansas City Chiefs for linebacker Dee Ford. A big piece of completing the deal is a new contract for the defensive player.
More trade news: The #Chiefs are deep in talks with the #49ers on a trade for star pass-rusher Dee Ford, sources say. Things have escalated and this could get done by the end of the night. Ford needs to work out a new contract with SF, which is a big piece of this.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2019
Rapoport reports that a Ford-to-49ers deal could be done on Tuesday night.
The Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Ford at the cost of $15.4 million for 2019. The move prevented the linebacker from hitting free agency on Wednesday, but Kansas City remained open to trading him as the team shifts from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 defense.
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.