If the San Francisco 49ers are going to add some pass rush talent before the season starts, it will not be Elvis Dumervil. The one-time 49er announced on Thursday that he has decided to retire from the NFL after a 12-year career.
On to the next chapter. Thank you for all of the support✊ pic.twitter.com/rA121JJNRf
— Elvis Dumervil (@EKD92) August 30, 2018
Dumervil spent the final season of his career with the 49ers, and was their sack leader with 6.5. DeForest Buckner did solid work getting pressure, and Cassius Marsh was a solid addition later in the season, but Dumervil was the guy who closed the deal.
He signed a two-year contract last year, but the second year was a team option. The 49ers elected to not pick up his option, and there had been little talk of his market most of the offseason. Earlier this month, head coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh both acknowledged he could be an option if the team needed improvement, but it appears the team did not push too hard (if at all) to make this happen.
The 49ers head into the 2018 season with question mark in their pass rush. They will be looking for more from the defensive linemen than their edge rushers, with Jeremiah Attaochu the only addition to the group. DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, and Solomon Thomas all could step up, but until we actually see it, questions abound.