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          NFL Nation

          Darnell Dockett's 49ers visit makes sense

          • Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterMar 2, 2015, 04:15 PM ET
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              Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role - writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA's Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis' Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN
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          With Justin Smith apparently still undecided about whether to retire or return to the San Francisco 49ers, the team has decided to start kicking the tires on other Pro Bowl defensive linemen.

          Darnell Dockett, released by the Arizona Cardinals last week in a move that saved them $6.8 million in salary-cap space, is visiting the 49ers Monday night, per ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder.

          There is no risk in a visit, even with Dockett missing all of last season after tearing his ACL in training camp. The three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle had only missed two games in his previous 10 seasons, all in Arizona after the Cardinals made him a third-round pick out of Florida State in 2004.

          Dockett, though, will be 34 on May 27.

          In 158 games with Arizona, the 6-foot-4, 293-pound Dockett had 462 tackles, 41 sacks and four interceptions.

          The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Smith, who turns 36 on Sept. 30, would be entering his 15th NFL season and has started all 110 games in which he’s played for the Niners over seven seasons with five Pro Bowl appearances. He has 87 sacks in 221 career games and three interceptions.

          Sunday night, Dockett tweeted the following: