Former NFL linebacker Tedy Bruschi and former head coach John Fox recently ranked teams' defensive moves this offseason, or in the case of two teams, players retained, during a segment this week on ESPN's NFL Live. New San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander was an option but did not make it into the top five.

One 49ers addition who did make it in the top five is pass rusher Dee Ford, whom the team traded for earlier this month. In fact, he ranked as the top defensive move this offseason.


Rank Player 2019 Team 2018 Team
1 Dee Ford 49ers Chiefs
2 Jadeveon Clowney Texans Texans
3 K.J. Wright Seahawks Seahawks
4 Earl Thomas Ravens Seahawks
5 Eric Weddle Rams Ravens

"I think he's going to fit really well with San Francisco," Fox explained. "Their front, they've got a lot of high draft picks up there, and I think in this league, you win up front, whether it's offense or defense. In this case, defensively. I think they're going to make noise getting Jimmy Garoppolo back, playing better defense. They're going to make the Rams think twice there in that NFC West."

Bruschi added, "And a good rusher on the outside. You can do things to him to stop him but if you've got (DeForest) Buckner in the middle, (Arik) Armstead in the middle also, those are two trees of a man, defensive tackles in there. You put them in there and then you've got the edge coming off the end with Dee Ford, it could be a front four that (is tough to deal with)."

H/t to Patrick Tulini for the find.

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