49ers Not Expected To Pick Up Aldon Smith’s Fifth-Year Option?

 

Update:

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that a league source has informed him that the 49ers have yet to decide whether or not to pick up OLB Aldon Smith‘s fifth-year option.

Previous reports that mentioned the team was likely to pass on picking up the option that would keep him under team control through the 2015 season.

The 49ers will have until May 3 to pick up Smith’s non-guaranteed fifth-year option, but it appears as though they are leaning towards allowing Smith to play out the final year of his rookie contract.

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the 49ers are not expected to pick up OLB Aldon Smith‘s fifth-year option.

• Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported Thursday night that the 49ers have no intention of releasing Smith following the incident at Los Angeles airport that led to his recent arrest.
• Rapoport mentions that a suspension for Smith is likely, but he didn’t offer any idea of how many games Smith could miss this year. 

The fact that Smith is likely to receive some sort of a suspension paired with the fact that QB Colin Kaepernick and WR Michael Crabtree both need extensions make it seem reasonable to allow Smith to enter the final year of his contract before deciding on his long-term future with the team.

Smith, 24, appeared in 11 games for the 49ers last year and totaled 34 tackles and 8.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 5 outside linebacker in a 3-4 system last year.