The Washington Redskins signed McClain to a four-year deal worth up to $21 million last year following a 40-tackle, 2.5-sack 2016 season with 15 starts for Dallas. He accounted for 20 combined tackles and two of Washington's sacks in 2017 but was released after the draft.
McClain (6-foot-2, 302 pounds) started just two of his 12 game appearances with Washington and missed Weeks 12 through 15 with a toe injury. The draft selections of Alabama's Da'Ron Payne (No. 13 overall) and Virginia Tech's Tim Settle (No. 163 overall) made McClain expendable.
The Carolina Panthers made McClain a third-round selection out of South Florida in 2011. In seven NFL seasons, he has appeared in 74 games with 29 starts for five different teams, including Washington, Dallas, the Houston Texans, and the New England Patriots.
McClain has registered 110 combined tackles, 6.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles over his career.
Current 49ers defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina coached McClain during his time in Houston. Zgonina was the Texans' assistant defensive line coach in 2013.
The 49ers did make one free-agent signing this week. Offensive lineman Mike Person signed a one-year deal with San Francisco on Wednesday.
As for defensive tackles, the 49ers drafted Jullian Taylor out of Temple during the seventh round of last month's draft.
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