George Kittle played critical role in San Francisco 49ers landing their biggest signing of free agency

Leonard Floyd is very familiar with going up against the San Francisco 49ers' offense.

As a member of the Los Angeles Rams from 2020 to 2022, Floyd faced the Niners seven times across the regular season and postseason.

That familiarity with the 49er attack was a key reason why Floyd last week elected to sign a two-year contract with San Francisco after hitting the open market, the veteran edge rusher arriving to boost a defense that lacked consistent production at the defensive end spot across from Nick Bosa during their Super Bowl run last season.

Floyd has 39.5 sacks over his last four seasons after recording 9.5 for the Buffalo Bills in 2023, but he jumped at the chance to sign with San Francisco, believing he can reach even greater heights because of the opportunity to practice against the 49er offense, identifying one All-Pro in particular as key to helping him sharpen his craft.

In a video press conference with local reporters, Floyd was asked how much his past experiences playing the 49er offense led him to the decision to choose San Francisco.

"It led a lot because going against cats like George Kittle that offense man, it’s a physical bunch," Floyd replied. 

"I feel like if I come in, I get that at practice every day, I get to go against George Kittle every day, it’ll mold me for a great season, it’ll help mold me and build myself up for a great season this year."

With his experience and history of production, Floyd was not short of offers in free agency.

But, in addition to the chance to go against the most talented offense in the league, Floyd elected to head to the Bay Area because of the direct approach to negotiations taken by the Niners. 

"Yeah, I got a call from my agent—I had quite a few offers," Floyd said. "But what it was, the 49ers didn't b******t around. They was out the gate, came in with a great deal. 

"It was a solid, solid deal for me. And there really wasn't no second-guessing it. They showed that they wanted me from the jump. So once I saw that, I'm like, 'Shoot, I want you all too. So, I'm on the way.' That's pretty much how it went.

"From the outside looking in, I knew this was a team that was ready for a Super Bowl run. I ain't want to go to a team and not be in a position to not be able to play in the playoffs or win a championship. So I came here with aspirations of coming in, helping the defense out to win games, and getting back to the big game."