The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly working hard to get a new long-term deal done with linebacker Aldon Smith, and it is a deal that they must get done. It hasn’t been an easy past year and a half for the 49ers’ franchise, and they are entering a brand new era of football with Jim Tomsula taking over the head coaching position from Jim Harbaugh.
Keeping a player like Smith around long-term would help the 49ers get back into contention. He is one of the best pass rushing linebackers in the entire NFL, and has proven himself each and every season. There have been some issues off-the-field, but for the most part he has stayed out of the news and has simply improved as a football player.
During the 2014 season, he was only able to play in seven games. He didn’t make as much of an impact on the 49ers’ defense as he had in years past.
Back during the 2012 season, he showed the type of full potential that he has when he’s healthy and on-the-field. He racked up 66 tackles to go along with 19.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interceptions. Those are exactly the type of numbers that he is still capable of putting up for the 49ers if he can get back to full health and stay out of off-the-field issues.
At just 25 years old, Smith is still in the prime of his career and has a lot of high caliber football left in his career. San Francisco’s general manager, Trent Balke, knows just how talented Smith is and made it very clear they want him to get locked up to a new deal.
“He’s in his contract year,” he said. “He’s poised to have a very good year. We expect him to have a very good year. I think he expects himself to have a very good year. We’re going to work hard to make sure that he remains here.”
Allowing him to get away and head elsewhere would be the biggest mistake that the 49ers could make. Players that are capable of being such a difference maker on the defensive side of the football don’t come around every year. Smith is one of the best in that category, and there would be 31 other teams lining up to sign him if he somehow hit open free agency.
Looking ahead at the 2015 season, it will be interesting to see what type of numbers Smith puts up. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the two sides get a new deal done at some point prior to the regular season, as it sounds like the talks are ongoing and heating up.
Expect to see the 49ers get the job done and bring Smith back long-term. If they are unable to get that done, they will regret it for quite some time.
