Aug. 15: Kendricks’ visit with the 49ers went well enough to land him a contract, as Rapoport tweets. It will likely be a veteran minimum pact, and based on head coach Kyle Shanahan‘s comments on the matter, Kendricks will have to fight for a roster spot.
Shanahan indicated that the plan is for Kendricks to add competition and depth to San Francisco’s LB corps as the team waits for Azeez Al-Shaair and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles to return (Twitter link via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com). Still, Kendricks’ experience could be a boon to a club that is hoping to contend for a postseason berth in 2021.
Aug. 13: Mychal Kendricks managed to continue his career through legal turmoil, but the veteran linebacker has not been connected to a team this year. The 49ers, however, are taking a look.
Kendricks met with the 49ers on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Now 30, Kendricks played in just one game last season. But he is another year removed from the ACL tear he suffered late in the 2019 season.
The 49ers present an interesting connection for Kendricks as well. New San Francisco defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, a 10-year NFL veteran as a linebacker, was Kendricks’ teammate for four years in Philadelphia. The Eagles drafted Kendricks in the 2012 second round, making that pick shortly after signing Ryans as a free agent. The two were Eagles starting ‘backers in each of those seasons.
The Seahawks employed Kendricks from 2018-19, using him as a starter alongside stalwarts Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright. They did so despite the linebacker’s insider trading issue, which caused the Browns to cut him in the summer of 2018. However, a ruling finally came down on that matter this year. Kendricks received three years’ probation last month, clearing a path for him to continue his career without this looming cloud.
San Francisco recently gave Fred Warner a top-market linebacker extension and employs Dre Greenlaw as a fellow starter. The team is light on a surefire third starter option for its 4-3 look. Kendricks operated as an outside linebacker in Seattle’s 4-3 scheme, with his presence prompting the Seahawks to use more base sets during his tenure, and did the same in Philly for much of his six-year Eagles stay.
Washington signed Kendricks late last season, poaching him off the Seahawks’ practice squad. He has come back from both an ACL tear and a broken tibia, which ended his 2018 season early, and will attempt to continue his career in a 10th season.
The 49ers have made a lot of reach signings in recent seasons that didn’t pan out but Kendricks seems like a good gamble if they can get him at a minimum cost.
Just signed Kendricks!