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San Francisco 49ers’ Signing Named One of Offseason’s ‘underrated’

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated 3/18/24

The rich get richer.

When the San Francisco 49ers signed former Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd, one of the most dominant and swarming pass rushes in the NFL became even more formidable.

According to Bucky Brooks of the NFL Network, the 49ers’ Floyd signing is one of the most underrated across the league.

“The 49ers’ desire to return to basics on defense relies on the unit producing more sacks and pressures without blitzing,” Brooks writes for NFL.com . “Floyd has efficiently registered 39.5 sacks since 2020, with at least nine each season. Playing opposite Nick Bosa, the ninth-year pro should feast on one-on-one chances in obvious passing downs, resulting in more splash plays (sacks, tackles for loss and turnovers) for a defense that routinely plays at an elite level.”

Leonard Floyd Contract Details

Adding Leonard Floyd to the 49ers defense is one thing, getting Floyd for what could prove to be a bargain, makes the addition by general manager John Lynch even more impressive.

Floyd’s deal is a two-year pact worth $20 million that includes $12 million guaranteed in 2024, and can be pushed to as high as $24 million, should the 31-year-old hit various incentives.

Even after signing Leonard Floyd, the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers still have upwards of $14.7 million in cap space, to continue building out one of the more complete rosters in the league.

What Leonard Floyd Brings San Francisco 49ers Defense

Floyd’s arrival in San Francisco likely spells the end of Chase Young’s rental period in San Francisco.

The 49ers now have an impressive pass-rush duo with Floyd and Nick Bosa, after Floyd posted 12 sacks while adding 41 total quarterback pressures during a standout 2023 campaign. Through his first eight seasons, Floyd has posted 58 sacks and has plenty of big-game experience while winning a Super Bowl ring for the Los Angeles Rams before making a run to AFC Divisional Playoffs with the Buffalo Bills last season.

Lynch and the San Francisco 49ers have consistently been aggressive when it comes to signing star-caliber players capable of making a significant impact, and Floyd follows that playbook.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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