San Francisco 49ers Scored 3 of The Best Free Agents Ever

The San Francisco 49ers were one of just four teams in NFL history to win five Super Bowls. Much of that was done through outstanding draft work.

Securing all-time greats like Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, and Jerry Rice set a foundation of greatness that most other franchises remain envious of to this day. However, the propaganda isn’t all that’s been led to believe. The truth is the 49ers didn’t reach those heights without spending money. Lots of money. If people think they didn’t dabble in free agency, they’d be wrong.

The truth is the franchise has a history of success at pinpointing great players on the veteran market every bit as much as college ranks. This is especially true on the defensive side of the ball. That was made clear during a recent NFL.com ranking of the best free agent ever signed at every football position. According to Elliot Harrison, the 49ers managed to nab not one, not two but three of the best defensive players ever to hit the market.

Cornerback: Deion Sanders, 1994

"“Sanders’ legendary football speed showed itself perhaps more than ever that season, as he returned six balls for a whopping 303 yards — over 50 yards per return! He took three to the house en route to being named Defensive Player of the Year.”"

Defensive Tackle:  Justin Smith, 2008

"“Bells and whistles didn’t exactly go off when the Niners inked Smith, who had been solid but not dominant in Cincinnati. Dominant is precisely what he morphed into in San Francisco. In 2009, he made the first of five consecutive Pro Bowls.”"

Safety:  Tim McDonald, 1993

"“McDonald made three straight Pro Bowls upon joining the 49ers while helping them secure the league’s top overall defense under then-coordinator Pete Carroll in 1995.”"

The amazing thing about each of those signings, aside from the fact that they landed at least one and maybe two Hall of Famers, not to mention perennial Pro Bowler, was that they became instrumental in the teams’ success at reaching the Super Bowl. McDonald and Sanders both formed the rebuilt secondary that paved the way to the 1994 championship that finally broke through Dallas and got the monkey off Steve Young’s back.

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Smith became the focal point of one of the best front sevens ever build along with Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis, and NaVorro Bowman. That 49ers defense led the way to three-straight NFC championship games and a trip to the Super Bowl in 2012. If nothing else this proves that free agency may not be as critical to the long-term success of a franchise. However, that doesn’t mean it’s unwise to spend when you think you’re close to competing.