Where the Seahawks stand in NFC West after early free agency period
By Lee Vowell
Second best offseason in the NFC West: San Francisco 49ers
I almost – almost – went with the Seahawks in the number two spot. I chose to go with San Francisco not because I am a homer but because the Seahawks have simply gotten more overall talent from their cap room than the 49ers. San Francisco has signed a bunch of their own players – Kevin Givens, Tashaun Gipson, and Jake Brendel to name three – but they added probably the best free agent in the division in Javon Hargrave.
San Francisco’s defense was so unbelievably good last year that it is easy to overlook the fact that their defensive tackle spots did little when it came to rushing the passer. The 49ers DTs accounted for just one sack in 2022. Compare that to Hargrave who had 9 sacks from a DT spot alone, and you can see why the 49ers’ defense might go from great to greater.
San Francisco also signed underperforming defensive end Clelin Ferrell. Ferrell was the fourth pick in the 2019 draft but certainly hasn’t played up to that excepted level. But watch. He will somehow get 10 sacks for the 49ers in 2023.
The 49ers did lose right tackle Mike McGlinchey, however. McGlinchey hasn’t made a Pro Bowl in his five seasons but was really good in 2022 and was a better fit with the 49ers than other teams because San Francisco likes to run a bunch. He will be missed.