The San Francisco 49ers have 14 potential unrestricted free agents who would hit the market when the new league year begins on Tuesday. Let’s continue our countdown with a backup linebacker who joined the Niners with two games to go in the season.
Originally a sixth-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers out of California in 2007, Bishop played with the Minnesota Vikings in 2013 and joined the Arizona Cardinals last season before being cut on Dec. 1 and then signing with the Niners two weeks later. His best season came in 2011, when he led the Packers with 142 tackles and had five sacks and two forced fumbles.
49ers career: In two games with the Niners, he had a pair of special-teams tackles.
Argument for keeping Bishop: He’s been a starter in this league and had no issue being transitioned to a special-teams player when he needed a job last December. He would add depth to a healing group of linebackers.
Argument for letting Bishop walk: A backup linebacker who plays special teams? The Niners can find an undrafted rookie for that role, no?
A bold prediction: Bishop, one of the more intriguing Twitter follows on the Niners, tweets out his next move – he's gone.
