When the 49ers traded a 2020 2nd-round pick back in the 2019 offseason to acquire defensive end Dee Ford, most thought this was a big win for the 49ers, but it turns out that Ford hasn’t been able to stay on the field, due to nagging injuries, mainly to his back & neck, so the question of what will happen with him is really a mystery, so let’s try to figure it out.
Now, Ford has restructured his contract on 2 different occasions, once before the 2020 season, which saved the 49ers a much needed $9.55 million, and then again this past offseason, which saved the team over $11 million in 2021, & over $9 million in 2022, and it wasn’t something that he had to do, as he didn’t have his deal redone like a normal restructure, he agreed to a new 2-year deal, with his 2023 year now being a void year.
And the reason I say he didn’t have to do it, not only due to him eliminating the 2023 contract year, or the fact that, despite NFL teams having the ability to restructure a players contract, the player has to agree to it, basically signing it, and making it official.
Ford had a $11.6 million injury guarantee in his then $16 million 2021 base salary, that would have kicked in on April 1, 2021, so the two sides reached a revised agreement, as stated above, a 2-year deal, but, as part of the deal, he got his 2021 base salary, $4 million, fully guaranteed, a $3 million signing bonus, and a $4.6 million injury guaranteed roster bonus, which is due between the 2nd & 5th day of the NFL’s waiver period, which begins the day after the super bowl, meaning, if Ford isn’t able to pass a physical, he’ll be paid that $4.6 million roster bonus, but that doesn’t mean he’s a lock to be a 49er in 2022.
So, if this does indeed happen, the 49ers could post June 1 cut Ford, where his $4.6 million roster bonus, & $4,909,997 prorated bonus for 2022 would become dead money for 2022, while the remaining $4,909,999, which currently is set to be dead money in 2023, would still be dead money, but the 49ers would end up saving, before the top 51 rule, $2.4 million, compared to $2,090,001 if the 49ers were able to not pay him the $4.6 million roster bonus, but, in the latter scenario, there would be no dead money in 2023, as the remaining $9,819,996 in prorated bonus would immediately hit the 2022 salary cap.
Honestly, as someone who’s defended Dee since 2019, I’m now getting to to the point where the 49ers need to seriously consider moving on from him, while he’s a dynamic EDGE when he’s on the field, the issue is, he’s never on the field, he played 11 games in 2019, only 1 in 2020, and just 6 this season, for a total of 18 games out of a possible 49 games, meaning he’s missed 31 games, nearly twice as many games as he’s played.
Now, I don’t know what will happen, as I don’t know Dee Ford, or his agent, nor do I know if he can pass a physical in February, but the 49ers need to seriously look past Ford, and get another young EDGE to go opposite Nick Bosa, who is going to cost at least $30 million a year, along with the emergence of both Samson Ebukam, & Arden Key, & the potential of Charles Omenihu, who was acquired in a trade at the deadline, really have made Ford expendable.
And, with all of this said, I thank everyone for reading article, as always you can follow me on Twitter @49erscap, or leave a comment below, and I’ll get back to you.
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