The 49ers signed a lesser-known hybrid defensive player in Samson Ebukam during the offseason of 2021. Ebukam’s deal was for two years, $12 million, totaling $5 million in guarantees. Based on his contract alone, the 49ers weren’t expecting Ebukam to be a Dee Ford replacement.
The fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft showed flashes of pass-rushing potential with the Rams but was never used on the edge full-time. So, 2021 was a transition from bouncing back and forth between linebacker and edge rusher to Ebukam permanently playing with his hand in the ground.