Kansas City traded franchise-tagged edge rusher Dee Ford to…
Kansas City traded franchise-tagged edge rusher Dee Ford to San Francisco for a 2020 second-round pick, avoiding a major long-term commitment after his career-best 2018 season. The Chiefs used pick No. 63 on linebacker Willie Gay Jr., who became a multi-year starter and contributed to championship defenses. Ford helped the 49ers reach Super Bowl LIV in his first season, but persistent injuries made his five-year contract far less valuable than expected.
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- pick 2020 2nd round pick (63rd overall, Willie Gay)
San Francisco 49ers Received
- player Dee Ford
Trade Analysis
Kansas City faced a difficult decision after Dee Ford posted 13 sacks in 2018. The Chiefs placed the franchise tag on him but were reshaping Steve Spagnuolo’s defense and did not want to match the long-term money San Francisco was willing to pay. They traded Ford for a 2020 second-round pick, turning an expensive departing defender into premium draft capital.
For one season, the 49ers could defend the move. Ford joined Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner on a dominant front. He recorded 6.5 sacks despite missing five regular-season games and remained a dangerous speed rusher during San Francisco’s run to Super Bowl LIV. The defense was the foundation of that team, and Ford’s presence had real competitive value even if his snap count was managed.
The long-term problem was availability. San Francisco signed Ford to a five-year contract, but back and neck issues drastically reduced his role after 2019. He appeared in only one game in 2020 and a limited number in 2021 before his tenure effectively ended. A second-round pick plus substantial guaranteed money for roughly one healthy impact season is a poor long-term return.
Kansas City waited a year to use the selection and chose Willie Gay Jr. at No. 63 in 2020. Gay developed into a starting linebacker with speed that fit Spagnuolo’s defense and played meaningful snaps on multiple Super Bowl teams. He was not an elite individual star, but he gave Kansas City several useful seasons on a rookie contract while the Chiefs avoided Ford’s injury-riddled extension.
That combination moves Kansas City to an A. San Francisco receives C+ because Ford genuinely helped a Super Bowl team in 2019, so the acquisition was not empty. The Chiefs still win clearly: they converted a player they were unlikely to retain into a younger championship contributor and avoided the contract risk that later materialized.