The San Francisco 49ers are in a tough spot now that their best defensive player, linebacker Fred Warner, is likely out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury.
There is a free-agent veteran who makes almost too much sense for the Niners to sign.
The name Eric Kendricks may be familiar to 49ers fans. The veteran linebacker has been in the NFL since 2015 and has a sterling reputation. However, he did spurn the 49ers in free agency after the 2023 season.
There was reporting the Niners had an agreement in place with Kendricks, whom they were hoping to sign as a fill-in for Dre Greenlaw after he got injured in the Super Bowl the previous February. Instead, Kendricks decided to sign with the Dallas Cowboys so he could reunite with Mike Zimmer, their defensive coordinator at the time and Kendricks' former head coach with the Minnesota Vikings.
The decision was not due to any animus for San Francisco, but it was still a bit annoying to see a player choose the Cowboys over the Niners.
Nonetheless, he had a solid 2024 campaign with the Cowboys as he had 138 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions on the season.
It is somewhat bizarre that he remained unsigned throughout the offseason and was still available for teams ahead of the regular season. He has remained unsigned almost halfway through the season, so he is right there to be scooped up if a team wants him.
Kendricks still looks to be in good shape to play and is out there working out. He reportedly turned down an offer from the Baltimore Ravens to be on their practice squad, so it seems he is still holding out hope he could be signed to a team's 53-man roster.
After the injury to Warner, it would seem Kendricks has a perfect opportunity with the 49ers. Kendricks has been a MIKE linebacker for most of his career, which means he knows how to lead a defense. He would be a trusted veteran presence out there among a relatively young defensive group, especially after the losses of Warner and edge rusher Nick Bosa.
Tatum Bethune is going to take over Warner's role for now, but it's asking a lot for a 24-year-old second-year player to try and fill that void on his own.
That is why it would make a ton of sense for the 49ers to bring in Kendricks to at least give them another option at middle linebacker if Bethune struggles.
Unlike a trade, signing Kendricks would not force the Niners to part with any draft capital, so they would not be sacrificing their future. He could simply be a one-year signing meant to try and stop the bleeding on defense.
The Niners have to do something to give their defense some support and signing Kendricks would be an obvious move to try and do that.