5 NFC West free agents 49ers would love to pluck away in 2022
By Peter Panacy
49ers NFC West free-agent target No. 2: Safety Quande Diggs, Seahawks
OK, a little splurging here. But one that’d ultimately make a lot of sense if the financials work out.
The Niners could potentially lose veteran strong safety Jaquiski Tartt to the free-agent market this offseason. And despite Tartt notably making San Francisco’s defense better when he’s been on the field (let’s forgive him for that dropped would-be interception in the NFC Championship game), his injury history in recent years suggests the 49ers would be wise to at least explore replacement options.
Seahawks two-time Pro Bowl safety Quandre Diggs surely won’t come cheap, although him suffering a leg fracture late in the season could potentially drop his asking price down a bit more into the Niners’ comfort range.
Diggs has played more of a single-high safety with fellow defensive back Jamal Adams down in the box. However, San Francisco has made these two safeties much more interchangeable in recent years, first under now-New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and even again with current defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans.
If the 49ers were able to acquire Diggs somehow, they’d be getting a ballhawking playmaker who’s had 10 combined interceptions the last two years.
For a Niners defense that struggled in that department last season, it’d be a notable boost.