Former San Francisco 49ers All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman shared his thoughts on his podcast about the safety position. Sherman said, “Safety first. You got to find a safety, a veteran safety who’s played good football.”
There are plenty of veteran safeties available, but how many would be substantial upgrades to what the 49ers have on the roster? Jabrill Peppers, Justin Simmons, Kyle Dugger, the list goes on and on. They are available for a reason.
Sherman thought Kevin Byard, who signed with the Patriots, would have been a “fantastic” signing. There’s no argument there. Byard’s a ballhawk and could have provided intangibles and leadership for the safety room.
The 49ers have never been big spenders at safety under the current regime. Byard’s deal was for one year, $7 million, with $6.17 million guaranteed. That number suggests the 49ers weren’t interested in the veteran market.
Here’s Sherman on the current group of safeties:
“I think it gives me hesitation to start back off without any competition at the safety spot. If you just go in there and start Malik Mustapha and Ji’Ayir Brown, I mean that’s fine, because I think at times Ji’Ayir Played really good football and Malik Mustapha flashed and played really fast and aggressive.”
Sherm brings up a valid point about Ji’Ayir Brown. He was much better than fans give him credit for last season. That’s not to say the Niners should look to upgrade from him, but Brown made a handful of plays a game that would get swept under the rug. That’s because the one missed tackle or reception allowed is easy to remember.
Sherman continued:
“But again, there were times they did not play great football and you know it left the defense in a bad position and in a bad situation. I think that’s something they have to address both in the draft and finding a veteran — a veteran presence.”
The reason the 49ers should move on from Brown is that his play style isn’t complementary to Mustapha. Brown came into the NFL as a free safety who was excellent deep. However, his lack of athleticism is on display far too much, even for a player with a high IQ.
The touchdown Brown allowed last season against the Texans is a prime example. He didn’t do anything wrong; he just wasn’t fast enough to get in position in time to contest the catch.
Mustapha showed enough promise as a rookie to deserve another season—especially now that he’s a year removed from a serious knee injury. I’d also like to see Mustapha in a defense when he’s not trying to do the linebackers’ job, which he clearly didn’t trust last season, and can focus on his job patrolling the middle of the field with Fred Warner back in the lineup.
Still, a veteran voice should be added regardless. Sherman echoed that sentiment:
“I remember when they had Tashaun Gipson and everybody was like, ‘Oh, you know, this is just a veteran feler,’ and they went to the Super Bowl that season and he had one of his best seasons. And I think everybody could see the value that a veteran safety brings and just his feel, and being ahead of the play and a sound tackler and it just calms the defense down.”
The grandpa in the secondary is none other than Deommodore Lenoir. The safety group is even younger, with Brown being the elder statesman.
The way the 49ers moved in free agency sets them up to add a safety within the first three rounds of the draft. But their history would suggest the defensive line is another way to protect the secondary. So, adding an edge rusher early to replace the recently retired Bryce Huff is probably a more pressing need.
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