Ahmad Brooks, linebacker, San Francisco 49ers
Now that San Francisco has signed Pro Bowler Elvis Dumervil, there’s a good chance the team moves on from its second-longest tenured player. Suggestions earlier in the offseason were that San Francisco would release Brooks to save $5-plus million against the cap.
But San Francisco currently finds itself in a different situation. Despite acquiring nearly two dozen veteran players, the 49ers are currently $67 million under the cap. This means that the team doesn’t really need to cut the proverbial fat.
Even then, is Brooks the type of player that’s willing to take on a backup role? Prior to signing Dumervil, he was penciled in as the team’s starting LEO under first-year defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. At this point, that’s far from a guarantee.
at 33 years old and with a wealth of starting experience, there’s no telling whether Brooks wants to be part of the rebuild in San Francisco. If he’s asked with taking on a smaller role, a potential exit from the team after eight seasons seems to make the most sense.