San Francisco 49ers free-agent guard Mike Iupati has told people he plans to sign with the Arizona Cardinals, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
A first-round pick of the 49ers in 2010 (No. 17 overall), Iupati was a mainstay at left guard as he was selected to three Pro Bowls and was named All Pro once.
But injury and ineffectiveness slowed him in 2014, when he missed a game with a concussion and sat out the Pro Bowl with an elbow injury. Plus, the Niners going away from the power-running game and more to a spread passing attack did not play to Iupati's strengths.
Iupati, 27, was non-committal about returning to San Francisco and, according to Pro Football Focus, he finished 14th out of 78 guards with an overall grade of plus-11.2, though his minus-18.5 run blocking grade was second and his plus-7.5 pass blocking grade was 55th.
Iupati plan to join the Cardinals will make for an interesting matchup with new 49ers defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, who left Arizona to head to San Francisco.
ESPN.com 49ers reporter Paul Gutierrez contributed to this report.