One player from each team the 49ers should be interested in: AFC West Edition

We’re down to both west divisions in the NFL when talking about one free agent from each team in every division. Today we’re taking a look at the AFC West to see if there is a player the San Francisco 49ers should be interested in. Last year, the team traded for Dee Ford. Will they go to the well again?

Chiefs- Edge Emmanuel Ogbah

Kansas City has a couple of free-agent cornerbacks that are intriguing, but with Ronald Blair and Damontre Moore both unrestricted free agents, the 49ers may look somewhere else to find depth on the edge. Ogbah is a perfect depth piece. He’s “good enough” against the run and as a pass rusher. Ogbah’s season was cut short due to a torn pec. He actually tore it a week after Kwon Alexander but didn’t return the rest of the season. In ten games, Ogbah had 27 pressures and six sacks. As a “secondary” rusher, he could be exactly what the Niners are looking for.

Raiders- S Karl Joseph

I’ve always loved Joseph’s game, though he never really took off in the NFL like I imagined he would coming out of West Virginia. Joseph will be an option if the team chooses to let Jimmie Ward walk and hand the keys to Tarvarius Moore. Joseph can play both safety positions and could compete with Tarvarius at free safety. That gives you a good special teamer and backup, no matter who wins. Joseph does not come without risk. He’s suffered an injury that seems to be every season. Only once has he played more than 800 snaps in four seasons, which is why I believe Spotrac’s $6 million valuation of Joseph is off.

Broncos- CB Chris Harris

This answer would be safety Justin Simmons, but general manager John Elway said Denver would use a franchise tag on Simmons if the two sides cannot reach a long-term deal. Harris is at that age where you’re leery of giving a cornerback big money. Harris, who is coming off the worst year of his career, will be 31 in June and is valued at $11 million annually. He allowed 69% of receptions his way to be completed, with a 48% success rate.

That’s not Harris.

Harris has the instincts and smarts to thrive in the 49ers defense. When you consider all the surrounding pieces, it’s tough to imagine Harris wouldn’t improve with San Francisco’s pass rush. This is a tough situation. I think the Niners need to add a veteran in the secondary this offseason. Finding the right value and fit, knowing that there isn’t the type of money that there was available last year makes it difficult to address certain needs. In Harris’s case, are you paying for past production? That’s a question you have to answer.

Chargers- S Adrian Phillips

Like most of the other teams that finished in last place, the free agency pool is slim pickings for the Chargers. Keeping the defensive back theme in this division, Phillips is a great special teams player than can fill in on defense in a pinch essentially at any secondary position. Phillips isn’t going to cost anything more than a veteran minimum. This would be another signing where Ward walks, and you are comfortable with Moore starting so you sign a versatile veteran.