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NFL Free Agency: Breaking Down the 49ers Free Agents, Cap Casualties in 2017

By Peter Panacy

Nov 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) before the game against the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) before the game against the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) looks into the backfield of the Dallas Cowboys during the game at AT&T Stadium. San Francisco beat Dallas 28-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) looks into the backfield of the Dallas Cowboys during the game at AT&T Stadium. San Francisco beat Dallas 28-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Cut Candidate No. 2: Safety Antoine Bethea

The 49ers will likely have four safeties capable of starting in 2017 and only two open slots. These four, of course, are Antoine Bethea, Eric Reid, Jaquiski Tartt and Jimmie Ward.

Ward may still be an option in both nickel and outside cornerback roles. Yet moving him back to his natural safety position also makes sense. Tartt hasn’t quite emerged as a hybrid-type safety just yet, so that’s worth keeping an eye on early next year.

Bethea is the strongest candidate out of the four not to make the roster next season. At 32 years old, his career is likely hitting the waning stages. And is it worth keeping him around one more year for the $7 million total cap hit in 2017?

San Francisco would free up $5.75 million in cap space by releasing him this offseason. And it would be worth opening the door for a younger player to assume a more prominent role.

There is the question about Bethea’s leadership skills though. The 49ers lack established leaders in the locker room. Bethea brings that.

But leadership only goes so far. And with the Niners in need of a complete rebuild, getting younger here makes more sense than retaining an aging veteran. Bethea likely goes.