49ers add Elvis Dumervil to aid NFL's worst defense

Eric Edholm
Pass rusher Elvis Dumervil has signed with the San Francisco 49ers. (AP)
Pass rusher Elvis Dumervil has signed with the San Francisco 49ers. (AP)

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch announced that the team has signed pass rusher Elvis Dumervil.

We love the phrase “stud to harass QBs,” and the addition of Dumervil to the mix — even with him past his prime at age 33 — should help as the team makes major changes on defense. The team worked him out last week and clearly liked what it saw.

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Dumveril was limited to three sacks in eight games last season with the Baltimore Ravens. He was cut in a cost-saving move, due more than $6 million this season. It was not too long ago that Dumervil was harassing QBs at a greater rate, logging 17 sacks in his All Pro season in 2014. In 10 career seasons, he has 99 sacks.

New coordinator Robert Saleh is switching schemes into more of a Seattle-style 4-3 with heavy cover-3 looks. Even though the 49ers didn’t have a terrible pass rush last season with 33 sacks (19th in the NFL), it can use all the help it can get. The 49ers has the NFL’s worst scoring defense last season and has a slew of front-seven players — including Aaron Lynch, Arik Armstead, Tank Carradine and Eli Harold — who need to improve.

It also could be starting No. 3 overall pick Solomon Thomas up front, so the more mentors the better, it would seem.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!