The 49ers have added depth pieces on offense and defense Wednesday afternoon. Shortly after San Francisco’s Wayne Gallman agreement surfaced, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets the team agreed to terms with Arden Key.
Like Gallman, Key visited the 49ers this week. Formerly an Oakland Raiders third-round draft choice, the three-year defensive end contributor will head back to the Bay Area on a one-year deal.
Las Vegas waived Key last week, doing so after adding former San Francisco defensive end Solomon Thomas in free agency. The 49ers lost Thomas and Kerry Hyder, who signed with the Seahawks, and injuries significantly affected their defensive end group last season. Both Nick Bosa and Dee Ford missed most of the season. Key may be in position to see frequent time, depending on how the 49ers proceed in the draft.
While Key went in the 2018 third round, he was viewed as a possible first-round pick at one point. The LSU product registered 11 sacks as a sophomore in 2016. While he has not produced much as a pro (three sacks in three seasons), Key did post 11 quarterback hits last season as a Raider reserve. Next season will be Key’s age-25 campaign.
Nice signing
Low risk signing could be what Hyder was for us last season.
I’m just happy he’s not in LV anymore. He’s a frustrating player to have on your favorite team.
He sucks surprised he got another job
Kris Kocurek can hopefully coach up Arden Key and Samson Ebukam, and I think he will be able to get more out of these guys than their former teams.
Coach KK has done wonders for the 49ers DL, and especially for their depth, coaching up some of their backups!!
The 49ers should boast some significant depth next season, and with Bosa and DJ Jones back, coupled with Kinlaw progressing I’m his sophmore campaign, this line should be one of the best in the NFC, AT LEAST!!
Depth wise, the 49ers will have:
Bosa, Armstead, Kinlaw, DJ Jones, Ford (if healthy), Ebukam, Givens, Kerr, Key, Blair, Street, and J.Willis…
They should have plenty of depth to help Bosa come along slowly, so hopefully he will be able to play the full season without missing any significant amount of time. The 49ers Defense is just different when Bosa is in the game, he is the definition of a gamechanger!!
It’s funny that niner fans are happy Solomon thomas is gone, and think Key was a good signing. Then there’s Raider fans who are happy Key is gone, and think Thomas was a good signing.
To fair, any DL signing for the Raiders is a good signing. The DL was pretty bad outside of Crosby. Can’t get much worse.