49ers Interested In LBs Brandon Spikes, Lance Briggs, Mason Foster, & Erin Henderson

Update:

49ers GM Trent Baalke confirmed that they have  interest in free agent linebackers Lance Briggs, Mason Foster, and Erin Henderson on Tuesday, per Matt Barrows.

• Baalke added that they’re also considering form Bills ILB Brandon Spikes. 
• Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500 recently reported that the Vikings have “lukewarm” interest in Spikes.

Spikes, 27, was forced to sign a one-year, $3 million contract with the Bills last year after finding very limited interest on the open market.

In 2014, he appeared in all 16 games and recorded 54 tackles, one sack, a forced fumble and three pass defines. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the N0. 13 inside linebacker out of 60 qualifying players due in large part to a very solid rating as a run-defender.

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Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports that the 49ers are considering the idea of possibly signing long-time Bears LB Lance Briggs to a contract.

Briggs is reportedly instead in playing for the 49ers, which probably isn’t surprising given the limited amount of interest he’s generated in recent weeks.

According to Barrows, the 49ers are also considering free agent linebackers Mason Foster and Erin Henderson.

There’s no question that San Francisco will need to bolster their depth at inside linebacker now that Patrick Willis and Chris Borland have both retired from the NFL.

Briggs, 34, finished out his three-year, $17.5 million contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in the coming months.

In 2014, Briggs appeared in eight games and recorded 35 tackles, one interception, a forced fumble and three pass defenses for the Bears defense. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 10 outside linebacker in a 4-3 system.

Foster, 25, has played out his four-year, $2,784,372 rookie contract that included $1,401,562 guaranteed.

Last year, Foster appeared in 10 games and recorded 62 tackles and three pass defenses for the Buccaneers. Pro Football Focus has Foster rated as the No. 43 inside linebacker out of 60 qualifying players.

We have Briggs and Foster featured in our Top 100 Free Agents list.