Defensive end Arden Key is among several San Francisco 49ers players set to hit free agency next week. Finally able to escape what he felt was a bad situation with the Las Vegas Raiders, Key racked up 6.5 sacks, 22 tackles, five tackles for a loss, and 17 quarterback hits through 17 games last season. All were career-highs.
The 49ers would probably like to have Key return. The feeling is mutual. However, Key has put himself in a good situation and set himself up to earn a nice payday.
"I want to come back," Key told fans during an Instagram Q&A (h/t TheSFNiners). "S--t, they got to want me to come back. Well, they want me to come back. We got to see if the money right."
The Raiders made Key a third-round draft pick out of LSU in 2018. He is preparing to enter his fifth NFL season. San Francisco signed the defensive lineman to a one-year deal on April 23, 2021.
Key, 25, also shared his opinion of last year's No. 3 overall pick, quarterback Trey Lance, who started just two games this past season while serving as Jimmy Garoppolo's backup.
"Trey got better throughout the year," Key said. "He gonna be a motherf--kin' dog. He gonna be a dog. Now, granted, he gonna have to make mistakes and s--t like that because he [wasn't able] to play this [past] year, but that motherf--ker gonna be a dog, though."
Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Source: 49ers Kyle Juszczyk passed on more money to stay in San Francisco
By Marc Adams
Mar 15
On Saturday morning, it was reported that the San Francisco 49ers are re-signing fullback Kyle Juszczyk after releasing him on Tuesday. Juszczyk, 33, agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal and is the 49ers' longest-tenured player. He joined the team as a free agent in 2017 and...
No one wants to hear it, but letting Jordan Mason go was the right decision for everyone involved. Mason stepped up in Week 1 when Christian McCaffrey was ruled out, and he made a significant impact. Over the first seven weeks of the season, Mason emerged as one of the league's...
Report: Insider reveals key details on 49ers' and Dolphins' offers to Joey Bosa [update]
By David Bonilla
Mar 10
The Athletic's Michael Silver reports that the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins have both made offers to free-agent pass rusher Joey Bosa. Each team presents a unique incentive to entice the five-time Pro Bowler. With the 49ers, Bosa would have the rare opportunity to...
Insider: 49ers, Brock Purdy negotiations remain far apart; Geno Smith deal could be key
By David Bonilla
Mar 11
According to Benjamin Allbright, who covers the Denver Broncos for KOA radio and is well-connected across the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy remain far apart in their contract extension negotiations.
Both sides had hoped the talks would progress...
