Justin Smith to 49ers

diabsoule · 03-01-2008, 07:57 AM

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3271999

And it's official. 5 years. $45 million. I don't see how this improves their defense.

The Legend · 03-01-2008, 08:09 AM

hes 270 is he gonna put some wait on and play DE?
our lose a few punds and play outside?

but i hope they move to 4-3 Willis would be amazing IMO

bearsfan_51 · 03-01-2008, 08:09 AM

Well if he can get to the quarterback it will. He's already probably an upgrade over Banta-Cain. It's quite a financial risk though.

The Legend · 03-01-2008, 08:11 AM

also its 6 yrs not 5 yr wooo that would have been crazy

OzTitan · 03-01-2008, 08:16 AM

Smith would have been far better off signing with a team like the Jags or Titans or Vikings where he isn't the primary focus on the DL.

Unless he is moving to OLB which would seem like a pretty huge risk. Put this down as the early top entry for "Big FA moves of 08 that didn't pan out" for me.

sup3rdup3r · 03-01-2008, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

Well if he can get to the quarterback it will. He's already probably an upgrade over Banta-Cain. It's quite a financial risk though.

Not quite. The 49ers have been very smart with their structuring of the contracts in recent years. The Clements deal and Michael Lewis deal are perfect examples, players that can be cut after years 4-5 in their deals w/o too much salary cap ramifications. Despite all the losing we've done under nolan, the cap management skills of the front office has been one of the few bright spots.

btw, to the OP, it says 6 years 45 mill. I'm really interested to see how they use him. Will it be as a 3-4 DE, a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 OLB.

619 · 03-01-2008, 08:21 AM

Lots of teams were looking at him as a 3-4 end so I have no reason but to believe that's where he will end up starting.

bearsfan_51 · 03-01-2008, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sup3rdup3r

Not quite. The 49ers have been very smart with their structuring of the contracts in recent years. The Clements deal and Michael Lewis deal are perfect examples, players that can be cut after years 4-5 in their deals w/o too much salary cap ramifications. Despite all the losing we've done under nolan, the cap management skills of the front office has been one of the few bright spots.

btw, to the OP, it says 6 years 45 mill. I'm really interested to see how they use him. Will it be as a 3-4 DE, a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 OLB.

Yeah yeah yeah.

They gave the guy 20 million up front to play a position that nobody knows if he can play. That's financial risk no matter how you structure it.

Jay · 03-01-2008, 08:29 AM

Shock of the day. At least they played coy about it...

keylime_5 · 03-01-2008, 08:34 AM

He'll replace Bryant Young at LDE, a guy he is pretty similar too (though not nearly as good of course). Should be similar to Trevor Pryce's role at DE in a 3-4 or the role that Chris Long would play in a 3-4 at DE.

Chief49er · 03-01-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keylime_5

He'll replace Bryant Young at LDE, a guy he is pretty similar too (though not nearly as good of course). Should be similar to Trevor Pryce's role at DE in a 3-4 or the role that Chris Long would play in a 3-4 at DE.

Agreed, even though I feel he is an upgrade compared to the Bryant Young of last year. Young is one of my all time fave Niners, but Justin Smith will be like Young of the past hopefully.

JagHombre22 · 03-01-2008, 12:04 PM

hopefully Calvin Pace didn't really get $20 million guaranteed...

MasterShake · 03-01-2008, 12:17 PM

I like the signing....he is a high motor, high character guy who has the ability to get to the QB and stop the run....and he is VERY durable.

He is making about the same per year as Kris "I used to be good" Jenkins.

I think the 49ers will move Justin Smith around...he has the versatility to play 3-4 DE (Lots of NFL defensive personnel guys love him as a 3-4 end) and OLB (Dick Lebeau likes him as an OLB). In our nickel package he will obviously play 4-3 end.

I think this is a very low risk signing, He's a guy who will try his best and make plays and our D-staff will put him in the right spots.

Thunder&Lightning · 03-01-2008, 12:30 PM

Good sign for the 9er's. Just need to keep building that D around Willis.

Nitschke-Hawk · 03-01-2008, 12:41 PM

Two seasons ago the Packers signed Aaron Kampman to a 4 year $21 milllion deal. This was before he started getting a lot of sacks but he has always had a high amount of tackles, indicating he's an excellent run stopper and plays a lot of snaps. Much like Justin Smith

A comparison over the last 3 seasons, in which each player played the same amount of games, they are also the same age-

Kampman: at $5.25 million per year, $12 million guaranteed, $21 million total
78.3 Tackles per season
11.3 Sacks per season

Smith: at $7.5 million per year, $20 million guaranteed, $45 million total
74.6 Tackles per season
5.16 Sacks per season

If Kampman were a free agent he could've gotten probably $23-35 million guaranteed, 6 years, $54-60 million.

But you know who's really excited right now-DeMarcus Ware and Shawne Merriman can't wait to get new deals and I think we could hear about possible extensions for them before the season starts.

thetedginnshow · 03-01-2008, 12:46 PM

I can't imagine seeing him at DE really, but we'll see. I always thought he was overrated, but maybe he'll prove something here.

D-Unit · 03-01-2008, 12:46 PM

He's not taking Bryant Young's spot. Most likey they signed Smith to play OLB in their 3-4 sets and DE in their 4-3 fronts.

Overall the 49er's signings have been ok. They appear to have gotten the key guys that they've keyed on. I know they wanted Pace, but Smith might be even better for them.

Only questionable move was giving Sopoaga 20M, but hey, that's my Hawaii boy so... cheeeyyaaah! He MADE it! :D

Justin Smith -- 6YR, 45M
Isa'ako Sopoaga -- 5YR, 20M
Deshaun Foster -- 2YR, 1.8
Roderick Green -- 1YR, 600K
Allen Rossum -- 1YR, 800K
Isaac Bruce -- 2YR, 6M
Dontarrious Thomas -- 2YR, ?
JT O'Sullivan -- 1YR, Minimum

nvot9 · 03-01-2008, 12:50 PM

Well at least now they're out of the running for Faneca (financially that is) or at least that's my guess...

thetedginnshow · 03-01-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvot9

Well at least now they're out of the running for Faneca (financially that is) or at least that's my guess...

They're not. They have a ton of money.

asmitty45 · 03-01-2008, 12:58 PM

I like Smith as a player very much, but im skeptical as to how he helps out this defense. I think this mught hint at the possibility of playing a lot more 4-3 in 08

MasterShake · 03-01-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmitty45

I like Smith as a player very much, but im skeptical as to how he helps out this defense. I think this mught hint at the possibility of playing a lot more 4-3 in 08

Agent Jim Steiner, who represents Justin Smith, just confirmed it. He said, the contract is "agreed to, not signed." The deal will be signed today. Smith will receive $32.5 million in the first four years of the contract, which is more than Richard Seymour's four-year total with the Patriots. The 49ers tried to work a deal to trade for Smith at the deadline this past season, Steiner said, so they've "been on him for a while." As for Smith's role with the 49ers, "They're playing a hybrid of a 3-4 that will put the team and Justin in a position to win." Smith also strongly considered signing with the Vikings.

Yung Flippa · 03-01-2008, 01:03 PM

The Niners really like spending money during the offseason.

49ersfan_87 · 03-01-2008, 01:17 PM

Not really happy about the signing...wtf are we doing? I hope it works out for the best, but that is just so much guaranteed money for such an unspectacular player.

stl9erfan · 03-01-2008, 01:19 PM

All indications are the 49ers will use Smith as a 3-4 DE. I'd be really surprised if he was used much as an OLB.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvot9

Well at least now they're out of the running for Faneca (financially that is) or at least that's my guess...

I really don't think we were ever in the running. I know there have been some reports to that effect, but McCloughan has long stated that he doesn't believe in paying guards big money-- letting Justin Smiley walk is proof of that, IMO. Besides, I think SF is set at guard next year with Snyder, Baas, and Wragge for good depth. What they need is somebody to back up the tackle spots and maybe take over the RT spot in the not too distant future.

ETA: on the big spending in the offseason issue-- they had $30 million to start FA thanks to good cap management in recent years and they used it to sign one big money FA and a few second tier types (Rossum, Foster, Bruce, Thomas, and O'Sullivan). Not quite the Washington Redskins, IMO.

toonsterwu · 03-01-2008, 04:22 PM

I know a lot of teams looked at him as a 3-4 OLB, thinking he had the agility to potential make a Greg Ellis type move. If the Niners show more hybrid this year, then this move makes some sense. I just don't see him as a 3-4 DE unless we turn on the way back machine and go back to the Phil Hansen days.