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San Francisco 49ers: 10 Players Entering a Make-or-Break Season in 2016

By Peter Panacy

November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks on during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks on during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; San Francisco 49ers safety Antoine Bethea (24) prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; San Francisco 49ers safety Antoine Bethea (24) prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4: Safety Antoine Bethea

At 31 years old, veteran safety Antoine Bethea is the oldest member of the 49ers secondary.

And remember the Niners are going with an all-around youth movement, right?

Bethea does offer veteran prowess and locker-room leadership. Those are good attributes to have. And he did partake in 448 snaps last season before a pectoral injury cut his 2015 campaign short after Week 7.

Yet the 49ers will have some up-and-coming players who could eventually push Bethea out of the picture.

Fellow safety Eric Reid isn’t going anywhere just yet. And second-year pro Jaquiski Tartt might be seen as more of a hybrid linebacker-type of safety. And, as seen in the 49ers OTA sessions, defensive back Jimmie Ward has been playing towards the outside corner spots.

Still, the selection of cornerback Will Redmond in this year’s draft will likely mean Ward will be transitioned to safety — a move general manager Trent Baalke suggested, per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News.

Bethea could see himself phased out after this season, if not beforehand. And his age doesn’t work in his favor.

The veteran also will count for $7 million against the cap in 2017, per Over the Cap — again, not a good situation to be in for a player on the wrong side of 30 years old and on a team trying to get younger.

Bethea’s leadership and reliability may be reasons alone why he stays in 2016. But anything beyond that looks grim at best.

Next: No. 3: WR Quinton Patton