According to ESPN's Field Yates, the San Francisco 49ers have restructured the contract of defensive end Dee Ford. The move reportedly creates $4.96 million in salary-cap space but adds voidable years to his deal.
The team has until Wednesday to get at or below the $208.2 million salary cap for 2022. On Monday, the 49ers made their first move of free agency, agreeing to terms on a massive three-year contract with Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward. The deal can become official on Wednesday.
The 49ers restructured the contract of DE Dee Ford, creating $4.96M in 2022 cap space (voidable years added), per source.
Ford has been limited by injury since arriving in San Francisco, but picked up 3.0 sacks in 6 games played last year.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 15, 2022
The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Ford (6-2, 252) out of Auburn with the No. 23 overall pick in 2014. He registered five tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble through six game appearances last season, eventually landing on injured reserve for the second consecutive season due to an ongoing back injury.
The 49ers placed Ford on injured reserve on November 6, 2021. The team opened his practice window on November 25 but eventually had to shut him down for the season.
San Francisco acquired Ford in 2019, sending a second-round pick to the Chiefs for the veteran pass rusher. Ford has only appeared in 18 regular-season games and taken part in 378 snaps in his three seasons with San Francisco.
Ford, 30, has recorded 159 tackles, 40 sacks, seven passes defensed, and 12 forced fumbles in 85 game appearances (43 starts) through his eight NFL seasons, per Pro Football Reference. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018.
