No. 10: Safety Tony Jefferson
Safety might not be a pressing need for San Francisco. But adding a player like Arizona Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson certainly could help.
He’s the type of guy who can line up all across the field — over the top, on the outside and in the box for active run defense.
Jefferson will get a substantial raise from his $1.671 base salary in 2016. And if the 49ers land a proactive defensive coordinator this offseason, Jefferson might be the perfect fit in the Niners defense.
Why He Fits
Veteran safety Antoine Bethea will turn 33 years old this upcoming season. And it’s not far removed from possibility the 49ers cut him before Week 1. Fellow safety Jaquiski Tartt regressed in 2016, and he never quite filled the role of a hybrid linebacker.
Moving defensive back Jimmie Ward from corner to safety might negate this need. But the addition of a player like Jefferson could keep Ward in a cornerback spot for the foreseeable future.
And, at 24 years old, Jefferson has yet to hit his prime.