The San Francisco 49ers have officially announced the additions of edge defender Dee Ford from the Kansas City Chiefs and linebacker Kwon Alexander from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The team will hold a press conference on Thursday at noon PT where general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan will introduce the newest Niners.
Signed, sealed, delivered.
Welcome to the Bay! pic.twitter.com/KamujGlhY4
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) March 14, 2019
Ford was traded to the 49ers on Tuesday in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2020, a relatively low cost to fill one of the team's most pressing needs — a dominant pass rusher. He was scheduled to become a free agent but the Chiefs halted those plans by using the franchise tag in order to trade him.
Ford's new deal with the 49ers will reportedly pay him up to $87.5 million over the next five years. The 49ers defense ranked No. 22 in sacks this past season, bringing down opposing quarterbacks just 37 combined times. Ford has racked up double-digit sacks in two of his past three seasons. His 13 in 2018 would have led all 49ers defenders.
"Me knowing they believe in me ... talking to the GM, talking to the owner, talking to the head coach ... they couldn't wait [for me to get there]," Ford told Yahoo Sports after learning about the trade and speaking with the 49ers.
The Chiefs made Ford the No. 23 overall selection in 2014. He recorded 55 combined tackles and a league-high seven forced fumbles to go along with his career-high sack total this past season. Ford has registered 137 combined tackles, 30.5 sacks, six passes defensed, and nine forced fumbles during his five NFL seasons.
News of Alexander's signing was first reported on Monday by both Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Pro Football Talk. He comes to San Francisco after the team was forced to part ways with former first-round pick Reuben Foster due to off-the-field issues.
Alexander, 24, will receive up to $54 million over the next four years on what has been viewed as a team-friendly deal.
Alexander was a fourth-round selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015. His best statistical season was in 2016 when he racked up 145 combined tackles, three sacks seven passes defensed, an interception, a touchdown, and a forced fumble.
Alexander registered 45 combined tackles, a sack, two passes defensed, and two forced fumbles through six starts with the Buccaneers in 2018, a season which ended early after he suffered a torn ACL during Week 7. He has recorded 380 combined tackles, seven sacks, 22 passes defensed, six interceptions, a touchdown, and six forced fumbles through his four NFL seasons.
