On initial observation, the San Francisco 49ers didn’t make an upgrade by going with reserve defensive lineman Ronald Blair over 2018 Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner by retaining the former on a one-year deal and trading the latter to the Indianapolis Colts for a first-round NFL Draft pick.
Yet that’s the route general manager John Lynch took, keeping Blair around for at least another season while clearing up some much-needed cap space by moving Buckner and getting compensation in return.
San Francisco’s defensive line depth was a key strength for much of 2019, yet it took a hit when Blair suffered a torn ACL during the team’s Week 10 Monday Night Football loss to the Seattle Seahawks.