Arden Key, DL

Originally posted by 808niner4lyphe:
IIRC, He had some first round talent buzz coming out of college before a failed drug test and struggled with weight control derailed it and fell off the cliff, I remember some even had him in top 10 talent. He also went to the Jon Gruden led Raiders who are not really good in developing anyone's career especially defensive players, more like killing their careers before it starts. New scenery with much much better coaching could bring out the disruptive LSU player he was known for. He was an attack tiger who was caged up in Paul Guenther's two gap read and react scheme. He'll fit well in with the Niner's attack and destroy scheme. Low risk, high reward signing if works out.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

From @gmfb Weekend: Pass rusher Arden Key came into the NFL with a lot of potential and is now capitalizing on it with the #49ers, who are thrilled with their bargain signing (though he won't be such a bargain as a free agent this coming offseason). pic.twitter.com/Ma36rkpRgI

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 8, 2022

Originally posted by Hoovtrain:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Definitely, hence the surgery. I just either didn't know what specifically the surgery was for or it hadn't been stated before what the real issue was that required surgery. Now I know.

Probably didn't want to say that they botched the initial surgery lol. Who knows. They vague description was a chronic change to the knee, So maybe it kept tearing.

Originally posted by All22:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by Cisco0623:

Originally posted by SteveWallacesHelmet:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by SteveWallacesHelmet:

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by SteveWallacesHelmet:
I really hope we can figure out a way to keep him. He has been really good, and I am not counting on Kinlaw to do much of anything for us.

I think Arden will stay. I think he knows he fits Kocurek's system and with Jimmy traded away (hopefully for a Alex Smith kind of value) that frees up considerable cap space for Arden. He's no Dee Ford, but he's productive. Ebukam also has 4.5 sacks - which is his highest total as a career. I hope he gets a couple of sacks against his old team this Sunday.

I"m still hopeful for Kinlaw. Reminds me a bit of the Solomon Thomas situation - he had a slow start. But Solomon seems to be doing alright with the Las Vegas Raiders. We shall see. Too early to call Kinlaw a bust. Maybe next year when he's supposed to be healthy, and he's not, or isn't productive, then I think that's the time the word Bust can be used.

I'm not calling him a bust yet. I'm just not expecting anything from him. When you have ongoing knee issues, its hard to count on anything from the guy.

And for the record, Solomon Thomas isnt playing very well for the Raiders. He had a couple nice plays early in the season, but he has been horrible overall. I know people dont love PFF, but they have him rated as the lowest rated defensive tackle in all of football against the run (what people were claiming he was drafted for), and 124th out of 127th overall.

BTW, I don't know if it's ever been confirmed about what the "knee issue" was for Kinlaw but on today's pod, Lombardi might have slipped and confirmed it was a partial ACL tear for Kinlaw on top of the other stuff.

Right. Its weird it was never specified. What I do know is he has had knee problems since college.

I hope we can retain Arden. Like I said, I am not expecting much out of Kinlaw and Arden has proven he can play inside.

Yup and I'd still like to draft another edge to develop behind Bosa and Key.

If we can get Kinlaw back to 100% this line will be special and deep.

Agreed all around.

With a 17 game season and COVID now being the norm there's never been a higher need for depth.

Originally posted by irief:
He's been great this year, but I'd be cautious making a long term commitment. Don't need a bunch of dead cap on the books if he decides to go back old ways. Team needs confidence that this isn't just a contract year anomaly.

Originally posted by irief:
He's been great this year, but I'd be cautious making a long term commitment. Don't need a bunch of dead cap on the books if he decides to go back old ways. Team needs confidence that this isn't just a contract year anomaly.

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
Next to nothing for 3 years in the league. One year of really good production? Two year deal for fair money. He'll still be in the prime of his career. If this holds up, then you break him off.

Originally posted by NinerBuff:

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
Next to nothing for 3 years in the league. One year of really good production? Two year deal for fair money. He'll still be in the prime of his career. If this holds up, then you break him off.

I think you're underselling his value and positional value. I doubt he'll cash in like Armstead, but I expect him to get a good deal. The question for me is do we pay him or do we need to save our money for Deebo and Bosa and let him walk. He's going to get paid, question is are we going to do it or not.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

From @gmfb Weekend: Pass rusher Arden Key came into the NFL with a lot of potential and is now capitalizing on it with the #49ers, who are thrilled with their bargain signing (though he won't be such a bargain as a free agent this coming offseason). pic.twitter.com/Ma36rkpRgI

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 8, 2022

Originally posted by StubbyNBY:
He's not going to cheap to retain. Only 25yrs old coming off a 6+ Sack season though obviously he was a big bust with the Raiders and it took a DLine coach like Kris Koucerek to get the talent out of him. I don't think he will command a huge contract but I can see him getting $3-$4 mill per

Originally posted by NinerBuff:

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
Next to nothing for 3 years in the league. One year of really good production? Two year deal for fair money. He'll still be in the prime of his career. If this holds up, then you break him off.

I think you're underselling his value and positional value. I doubt he'll cash in like Armstead, but I expect him to get a good deal. The question for me is do we pay him or do we need to save our money for Deebo and Bosa and let him walk. He's going to get paid, question is are we going to do it or not.