© Matthew Emmons | 2020 Sep 20
Pressuring the quarterback was one of the keys to the 49ers’ Super Bowl run in 2020, led by All-Pro talents Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner and Dee Ford.
Two of those players, Bosa and Ford, are likely out for the season with injuries. Buckner is gone, traded to Indianapolis in the offseason, while Armstead, with limited help, only has 1.5 sacks on the season. In 2019, the 49ers finished third in the NFL with 3.2 sacks per game. So far in 2020, they rank 22nd in that category with 1.7 per game.
Put simply, they could use a pass rusher in the worst way. That’s what makes Monday’s report that the Cowboys are placing four-time Pro Bowler Everson Griffen on the trading block so intriguing.
This is an interesting one: The #Cowboys have made it known that DE Everson Griffen is available in a trade, source says. About half of his $6M salary is left for a team looking for edge help. Makes sense with Dallas’ record.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 26, 2020
Also intriguing is that number, $3 million, which is all the 49ers would have to shell out for his services for the remainder of the season. The 49ers defense has been incredibly impressive considering the lack of pass rush, and the addition of a bonafide edge talent could push them to the heights of 2019.
At 32, Griffin is far from washed. The 11-year vet made the Pro Bowl while tallying eight sacks last season with the Vikings. Griffin had some of the best sack totals in the NFL during his time with Minnesota, notching 74.5 in 88 games.
Griffin has 2.5 in seven games with Dallas this season, but hasn’t started a single game.