Predicting which free agents 49ers re-sign, let walk in 2023

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward (1) Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward (1) Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tashaun Gipson, San Francisco 49ers
Tashaun Gipson Sr. #31 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

49ers NFL free agency prediction: Safety Tashaun Gipson

Jimmie Ward suffering an injury heading into the regular season last year opened up the door for Tashaun Gipson to become one of San Francisco’s best-unpredicted storylines of 2022.

Gipson, who was signed off the street as a free agent to fill Ward’s void, never gave the starting free safety job back even after Ward returned, and it might have been a good thing. After all, Gipson finished the season with five interceptions and eight passes broken up in a campaign that was reminiscent of his lone Pro Bowl year back with the Cleveland Browns in 2014.

At any rate, Gipson is admittedly mulling over retirement. However, he also admitted that he’d love to stay in the league if it meant returning to the 49ers.

Speaking from the NFL Scouting Combine over the weekend, John Lynch told the team’s website that there’s mutual interest between the Niners and Gipson returning.

As opposed to Ward, Gipson likely returns on a much cheaper deal.

Prediction: Re-sign