Niner Noise
FanSided

5 early targets for the 49ers in 2020 NFL free agency

By Peter Panacy

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 25: A.J. Green #18 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball after making a catch against the San Francisco 49ers at Paul Brown Stadium on September 25, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 25: A.J. Green #18 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball after making a catch against the San Francisco 49ers at Paul Brown Stadium on September 25, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 12: Tre Boston #33 of the Carolina Panthers reacts after a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 12: Tre Boston #33 of the Carolina Panthers reacts after a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Safety Tre Boston

Yes, back aboard the free agency train for now-Carolina Panthers safety Tre Boston. This certainly hasn’t been the first time Niner Noise has touted the benefits of adding a player like Boston to the secondary.

It wasn’t as if the 49ers lacked the need. Defensive back Jimmie Ward, who is oft-injured, is signed only through 2019. And second-year defensive back Tarvarius Moore has a ways to go before fully solidifying a starting job at free safety.

Moore’s pending ascent or regression will ultimately have a lot of influence on any decision regarding Boston, who held out deep into NFL free agency before joining Carolina on a one-year deal. Like the Redskins, though, the Panthers may end up clearing house between now and 2020, starting off with head coach Ron Rivera.

It’s unlikely such moves would guarantee Boston’s return to Carolina, putting him back on the open market and in a position to land a longer-term deal next season.

Don’t overlook the success Boston had with the Los Angeles Chargers back in 2017, and they run a similar defensive scheme as San Francisco.