26 August, 2017
According to Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee, San Francisco plans to release long-time linebacker Ahmad Brooks.
Barrows reports that Brooks' release may be delayed while the 49ers see if there are any suitors for the 33-year-old, who is owed $6.1 million in the upcoming season. The Niners may wait to gauge his trade market before releasing him, but it looks like he's played his last down as a 49er.
The San Francisco 49ers' roster overhaul under first-year general manager John Lynch is close to taking another step. His total sacks as a member of the 49ers rank third in franchise history.
Harold was a third-round selection by the 49ers in the 2015 NFL Draft and has 14 starts in his two NFL seasons. "In that time, he played a significant role on some formidable defensive units that helped this team achieve great success".
Brooks joined the 49ers in 2008 after being claimed off of waivers from the Cincinnati Bengals.
Brooks never was as big of a name as his counterparts at linebacker - like Patrick Willis and Navorro Bowman - but that shouldn't take away from how solid of a player he was for the 49ers.
Harold not only is 10 years younger than Brooks, no two players competing for the same spot have almost as wide a discrepancy in their salaries. Brooks is entering the final season of his contract. "We wish him and his family nothing but the best".
On Thursday, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh discussed both Brooks and Harold. Last year, he appeared in all 16 games and collected 41 tackles and six sacks. "If you're looking at Eli and Ahmad, they're very athletic, they're both very strong, they both love the game. You've got two very good football players".
Brooks has been with the 49ers since the Mike Singletary regime, arriving in 2009 and becoming a full-time starter in 2011 as the team ascended to its 21st-century peak under Jim Harbaugh.
