Some may argue the San Francisco 49ers reached in signing free-agent linebacker Malcolm Smith to a lucrative five-year, $26.5 million contract this offseason.
After all, the Super Bowl XLVIII MVP posted a lowly 49.7 overall grade last season, per Pro Football Focus, and has generally been considered on the downward trend since his outstanding 2013 season with the Seattle Seahawks.
Contractually, though, Smith’s contract is only a three-year deal with team options for years 2020 and 2021. And it makes sense why the Niners grabbed him on the open market.
49ers
At the time of Smith’s signing, San Francisco couldn’t have known the team would land former Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster in Round 1 of the NFL Draft.