49ers target Justin Smith

Justin Smith, the Bengals unrestricted free agent defensive end, will make his first visit to the San Francisco 49ers and not the Minnesota Vikings, according to ESPN.com. Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, Bengals coordinator in 2003 and 2004, wanted Smith there first.

Smith will not visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to PewterReport.com.

Lines of communication will remain open between the Bengals and Jim Steiner, Smith's agent, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has said. Smith told Lewis that he would give the Bengals the chance to re-sign him.

UPDATE: Word is the 49ers are saying they won't let Smith get out of town without a contract. He is scheduled to fly to Minnesota later today or Saturday. The 49ers run a 3-4 (three linemen, four linebackers), a scheme in which Smith has not played as a pro.

The Vikings play a 4-3 and have two dominating defensive tackles in Pat Williams and Kevin Williams. Frazier knows that Smith would not get double-teamed the way he was with the Bengals. Smith's sack totals would increase with a team like the Vikings, and he would benefit from playing alongside those tackles, who occupy blockers.

During Frazier's two seasons as Bengals defensive coordinator, 2003 and 2004, Smith had five and eight sacks. Smith as 43.5 sacks in his career and has started an impressive 107 consecutive games.