SF 49ers: 5 older veterans team should add in NFL free agency
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Safety Michael Thomas, Houston Texans
Cornerback isn’t the only position within the secondary likely to suffer some notable tradition this offseason.
It’s likely San Francisco loses starting strong safety Jaquiski Tartt to the free-agent market. And while the SF 49ers ideally replace Tartt with depth defensive back Tarvarius Moore, Moore’s inconsistency in pass coverage the past couple of years mandates some additional moves here.
On the depth side of things, backup safety Marcell Harris is a restricted free agent and doesn’t possess much upside other than being a reserve player.
With veterans like Tartt and Richard Sherman likely departing, it wouldn’t hurt the Niners to find some experienced leadership like eight-year pro safety Michael Thomas, who spent last season with the Houston Texans after previous stints with the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants.
Thomas, who’ll turn 31 years old later this month, primarily spent time on special teams with Houston last season. But he was a regular fill-in reserve in 2018 and 2019, and that 2018 season included a Pro Bowl nod, too.
San Francisco could still benefit from that kind of presence, and Thomas would certainly come on the cheap as well.