The San Francisco 49ers are the latest team to utilize creative salary cap re-jiggering to free up some money.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Niners and outside linebacker Dee Ford agreed to a restructured two-year contract worth up to $24 million.
As The Athletic's Dave Lombardi pointed out, Ford's previous deal included $11.6 million extra in guaranteed money had he failed his physical by April 1st. Both sides struck a new deal that will keep Ford in the fold and help alleviate the cap hit.
Restructure almost certainly means that the 49ers gave up on Dee Ford being able to pass a physical by 4/1, which means that his $11.6m injury guarantee was going to become fully-guaranteed.
So 49ers sucked it up and turned their losses into a new deal with cap hits pushed back
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) March 15, 2021
San Francisco promptly used the new funds at their disposal to sign another linebacker Samson Ebukam. Per Pelissero and Rapoport, the 49ers inked Ebukam to a two-year deal that could be worth up to $13.5 million with incentives.
Ford Remains with 49ers
Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs out of Auburn back in 2014, Ford has been in the league for seven years. He was then acquired by the 49ers for a second-round pick in 2019 after five seasons in Kansas City.
In two seasons with the 49ers, he has been limited by injury. In 2019, he recorded 6.5 sacks in 11 games. Then played just one game last year before neck and back issues ended his season.
“I think everybody understands we're a better football team when Dee's out there,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said in January. “He's an impactful player. He's a finisher. He's pretty emblematic of a lot of the issues that plagued our team this year. You know the old saying — the best ability is availability, and we weren't available enough this year, and that went for Dee.”
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