49ers Rumors: Former Seahawks LB Mychal Kendricks Agrees to Contract

Linebacker Mychal Kendricks is switching sides in one of the NFC's biggest rivalries. The former Seattle Seahawks star is signing with the San Francisco 49ers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Kendricks spent 2020 with the Washington Football Team, but only appeared in one game and did not record any tackles. Over his two previous years with the Seahawks from 2018 to 2019, Kendricks made 17 starts, racking up 90 total tackles, five sacks, four pass deflections, one interception and one forced fumble.

Now the former college star at California returns to the Bay Area looking to revive his career. 

Terms of his deal with the Niners have not yet been made public.

Following Saturday's 19-16 preseason opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters he couldn't confirm whether or not the team inked a deal with Kendricks, but made his feelings on the matter exceedingly obvious. 

“I hope we did," Shanahan said. 

Once the deal is official, the 30-year-old is likely to primarily provide depth for 49ers defense that finished with the fifth-best yards allowed per game last season (314.4).

Dre Greenlaw, Fred Warner, Azeez Al-Shaair aren't expected to lose their starting positions and backups Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jonas Griffith, James Burgess Jr., Justin Hilliard and Marcell Harris appear locked in behind them on the depth chart. 

That doesn't mean the No. 46 overall pick in 2012 won't be able to play his way into a bigger role, it just depends on how many opportunities he's able to take advantage of moving forward. 

He may already be at a disadvantage there with only two more preseason games remaining and a position group that already has a head start on him at training camp, but he's also got the type of experience to help make up the difference in this type of situation.

Either way, Kendricks is back in the NFL.