49ers trade LB Kwon Alexander to Saints

The San Francisco 49ers are moving on from Kwon Alexander after his year-and-a-half run with the team.

San Francisco agreed Monday to trade the starting linebacker to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a conditional fifth-round draft pick and linebacker Kiko Alonso, Saints coach Sean Payton confirmed.

Alexander, 26, signed a four-year, $54 million contract with the 49ers in March 2019 after a four-year tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that included a Pro Bowl berth in 2017.

A torn pectoral limited him to just eight regular-season games last year before he returned for the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl. He also underwent offseason biceps surgery.

In 2020, he suffered a high-ankle sprain in a Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins and has yet to return to action.

All things 49ers: Latest San Francisco 49ers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Alexander restructured his contract last November.

In New Orleans, Alexander would team with All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis on a Saints defense that ranks eight in the NFL with 328.4 yards allowed per game.

Payton said Alexander will compete with Alex Anzalone at weakside linebacker. He added it would be difficult for Alexander to play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers given the on-boarding schedule amid COVID-19 protocols. The Saints, however, host the 49ers the following week.

The NFL's trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.