San Francisco 49ers: 10 Starters Who Might Not Make the 53-Man Roster in 2016
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Safety Antoine Bethea
Veteran safety Antoine Bethea is one of the few 49ers who can brag about being 30 years old or older — not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.
At any rate, Bethea is coming off an injury-shortened season but will look to get back on track as the senior member of San Francisco’s secondary. He and fellow safety Eric Reid do comprise a competent safety pairing, but a number of other factors prompt questions whether or not Bethea’s future is safe.
When the 49ers drafted cornerback Will Redmond in the 2016 NFL Draft, general manager Trent Baalke (h/t Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News) noted the rookie would likely take over the nickel corner role.
This, in turn, would push defensive back Jimmie Ward back to his natural position at safety.
Baalke noted Jimmie Ward will eventually transition to safety. Not sure how that impacts Eric Reid. Not good for Bethea's future.
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) April 30, 2016
Such a move likely would mean Bethea, who still has two years left on his current deal, might be out of the job.
But Ward has since been slated to move to the outside, as discussed earlier. And this would mean Bethea is safe this season, right?
Well, maybe not.
Fellow safety Jaquiski Tartt is likely going to be Bethea’s replacement at some point. True, Tartt’s coverage skills need work, and he will probably assume more of a hybrid role at this point in his career, but a move to a more traditional role isn’t out of the picture either.
And what if Ward struggles on the outside? The 49ers don’t want to keep him off the field, which would mean either Redmond or Bethea may have to give up the spot.
Youth would win out in this case.
Next: OLB Ahmad Brooks