The defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers are still looking for a new defensive coordinator after head coach Kyle Shanahan shockingly fired Steve Wilks.
The firing came following the 49ers’ fourth quarter and overtime meltdown in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. It surprised the masses given Wilks’ past success and the fact that he was with the 49ers for just one season.
San Francisco has now interviewed a couple internal candidates as well as former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley for the defensive coordinator opening.
We can now add another name to the mix. It’s pretty darn interesting. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, the 49ers are interviewing Kansas City defensive backs coach David Merritt for the vacant position.
There are several layers to this new report. Merritt has served in his current role with Kansas City since back in 2019. He helped turn Charvarius Ward into a top-end cornerback before he signed with the 49ers on a big-money contract ahead of the 2022 season. Ward is now coming off his first ever All-Pro season.
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San Francisco 49ers’ interest in David Merritt could be a harbinger of things to come
This interview comes one day after it was reported that the Chiefs will place the franchise tag on fellow cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. A starter on the Chiefs championship teams over the past two seasons, Sneed has also been given permission to seek out a trade.
Get what we are stepping in here?
It’s pure speculation and conjecture. The idea of two teams who just played in the Super Bowl getting together on a blockbuster trade might not make sense.
Then again, the 49ers have a need at cornerback behind Ward. Sneed played with Ward in Kansas City. Merritt coached both of them with the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs. It’s hard not to draw parallel.
Some will point to the finances being an issue. San Francisco is currently a mere $6 million under the 2024 NFL salary cap. But that would be folly.
After failing to get over the top again this past season, the 49ers are in win-now mode. Simply restructuring the contracts of Trent Williams, Deebo Samuel, Arik Armstead and Fred Warner would save San Francisco nearly $53 million against the cap. It’s not unlikely.
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Either way, this is just some food for thought should San Francisco hire Merritt. General manager John Lynch and Co. have been among the most-active on the NFL trade front. They have 11 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. The 49ers are not going to use all of those selections.
As for Sneed, he was brilliant for Kansas City a season ago. The veteran yielded a mere 51.0% completion and 56.2 QB rating when targeted.