The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL and one reason is the fact that they keep their players, as they did with Anthony Davis, who signed a new lucrative extension on Thursday.
According to ESPN.com, the 49ers locked up Davis with a five-year extension worth up to $37 million and puts to rest any speculation that the team might acquire Branden Albert from the Chiefs. Davis has been a solid player for the 49ers since being selected in the 2012 draft and he has teamed up with Joe Staley and Mike Iupati to give the team one of the best lines in the league.
The 49ers have been working hard to hold on to their players after their Super Bowl appearance, unlike the Ravens, and they have done it again with Davis. The Chiefs have put Albert on the trading block after using the franchise tag on him and the most likely option is the Miami Dolphins, as they need a left tackle after losing Jake Long to the Rams in free agency.
The Chiefs see Albert as expendable as they have the number one pick in the draft and have the chance to select two great linemen in Luke Joeckel and Eric Fisher, who are considered to be the top prospects at the position in the draft. The Chargers have appeared to be an option as well, but so far there hasn't been much movement on a deal. The Chiefs likely would want to get back the second round pick they gave up to get Alex Smith and the Dolphins have two, making them a compatible option.
Davis has been consistent for the 49ers since being drafted and he has started all 48 games that he has played and he was set to be a free agent after the 2014 season, along with Michael Crabtree and quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The 49ers made themselves even stronger following their Super Bowl appearance and they will likely be the favorites heading into 2013 from the NFC.
