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San Francisco 49ers: 10 Free Agents to Consider Post Franchise-Tag Deadline

By Peter Panacy

Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the San Francisco 49ers helmet before game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The 49ers beat the Broncos 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the San Francisco 49ers helmet before game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The 49ers beat the Broncos 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson (22) against the Green Bay Packers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson (22) against the Green Bay Packers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 5: Safety Tony Jefferson

The 49ers are relatively deep at safety heading into 2017. But that doesn’t mean this unit lacks the need for upgrades.

Antoine Bethea is hitting a contract year and, at 32 years old, could be a cut candidate. And fellow safety Eric Reid hasn’t quite been the same since his Pro Bowl rookie season in 2013. True, the Niners could put defensive back Jimmie Ward into a free safety role and have Jaquiski Tartt take over at strong safety.

But just imagine Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson as San Francisco’s next strong safety.

Jefferson is great in the box and defending against the run — an area in which the 49ers struggled last season.

Plus, Jefferson just turned 25 years old. He’s young and just reaching his full potential.

Signing Jefferson would likely mean the Niners aren’t sold on Tartt as anything more than a backup and situational player. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, since the aforementioned rotations could still keep Tartt in the mix enough to make him a valuable commodity.