Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, citing multiple sources, reports that the 49ers plan to release veteran OLB Ahmad Brooks.
- According to Barrows, it’s possible that Brooks’ release could be delayed while the 49ers look to see if there are any teams interested in a trade.
- Ian Rapoport confirms that the 49ers have been shopping Brooks around the league over the past few weeks.
Brooks was battling Eli Harold for the starting strong-side linebacker spot and it appears as though the 49ers have elected to go younger at the position.
Brooks, 33, is a former supplemental third-round pick of the Bengals back in 2006. He spent two years in Cincinnati before he was claimed off of waivers by the 49ers in 2008.
Brooks is currently in the final year of his six-year, $37 million contract that included $8.25 million guaranteed and set to make a base salary of $6.95 million for the 2017 season.
According to OverTheCap.com, releasing Brooks will free up $5.3 million of available cap space while creating $848,750 in dead money.
In 2016, Brooks appeared in all 16 games for the 49ers and recorded 35 tackles, six sacks, four pass defenses and a forced fumble. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 87 edge rusher out of 110 qualifying players.
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