Where might the 49ers go at the safety position?
The free agent safety market is a deep one this year, and recently released safety Eric Weddle is looking to get a jump on it. Weddle drew considerable early interest, with Ian Rapoport reporting 11 teams made an initial offer to him. Earlier today there were reports he was visiting with the Los Angeles Rams, and this afternoon reports had a deal done. The Rams effectively confirmed the news on Twitter.
Fear the beard.
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 8, 2019
The deal is for two years and worth $10 million, with an additional $2.5 million in incentives and bonuses, according to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport. The move comes as the Rams are expecting LaMarcus Joyner to depart the team via free agency.
The Rams get older at the safety position, but Weddle is a solid, veteran addition to a defense that will have to deal with some turnover this year. The Rams would have remained the favorite in the NFC West without this signing, but this bolsters the defense in the short term.
The San Francisco 49ers could be active in the safety market next week, and they will have a lot of options to consider. Earl Thomas is the big name, but Joyner, Tyrann Mathieu, and others could result in some decent deals to be had for teams looking to improve in the back end of their defense.
The 49ers currently have Adrian Colbert and Jaquiski Tartt penciled into their two safety roles. Injuries were a huge problem, and with Colbert showing some inconsistency prior to his injury, the team could be aggressive to improve the position. It just won’t be with Eric Weddle.
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