Former Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd has become the San Francisco 49ers' most significant free-agent acquisition thus far this offseason. While the 31-year-old pass rusher had multiple suitors, the Bay Area team emerged as the most aggressive in its pursuit.
On Monday, Floyd spoke to reporters for the first time since the agreement with the 49ers was revealed. During the conversation, he elaborated on why the decision to head to Santa Clara was easy.
"Yeah, I got a call from my agent—I had quite a few offers," Floyd said. "But what it was, the 49ers didn't bullsh--t around. They was out the gate, came in with a great deal. It was a solid, solid deal for me. And there really wasn't no second-guessing it. They showed that they wanted me from the jump. So once I saw that, I'm like, 'Shoot, I want you all too. So, I'm on the way.' That's pretty much how it went."
The fact that the 49ers are coming off a Super Bowl appearance didn't hurt. Floyd emphasized that joining a winning team was a priority in his search for a new NFL home.
"What led me to them was, from the outside looking in, I knew this was a team that was ready for a Super Bowl run," Floyd stated. "I ain't want to go to a team and not be in a position to not be able to play in the playoffs or win a championship. So I came here with aspirations of coming in, helping the defense out to win games, and getting back to the big game."
Additionally, Floyd has long admired the 49ers' offense, which he describes as a "physical bunch." He is eager to practice against the group daily, believing it will allow him to refine his skills and elevate his game. The 49ers are hoping the defensive end can bolster a pass rush that was inconsistent in 2023.
The Chicago Bears drafted Floyd (6-6, 240) out of Georgia with the No. 9 overall pick in 2016. In his eight NFL seasons, he has racked up 370 tackles, including 63 for a loss, 122 quarterback hits, 58 sacks, two safeties, 14 passes defensed, two interceptions, a touchdown, and four forced fumbles in 121 game appearances (120 starts).
