Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
The 49ers do not need another free safety (or even a strong safety), but when one of the league’s greatest-ever safeties becomes available, effectively for free, speculation and due diligence is inevitable. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday that the 49ers would be a team to look at potentially signing him.
A few other teams to watch for #Ravens S Earl Thomas upon him being released: The #49ers and #Texans. They should be among those inquiring, along with the #Cowboys. Thomas, of course, will have a market.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 23, 2020
This comes after Thomas was released from the Baltimore Ravens for “conduct detrimental to the team” after a reported altercation with safety partner Chuck Clark, which Thomas later confirmed on Instagram. He’s currently a free agent.
The 49ers have their starting safety pairing in longtime duo Jimmie Ward, who was signed to a three-year, $28.5 million deal this offseason and Jaquiski Tartt, who’ve played together since high school. Tarvarius Moore, a third-round pick from 2018, has also excelled throughout training camp.
So, why would the 49ers be interested? Short answer: they’re not. That’s according to head coach Kyle Shanahan on Tuesday.
“I’m real happy with our safeties and I mean nothing against Earl, but there wasn’t interest because we have our team,” Shanahan said. “We have the guys that we want in our spot and this is how we planned it. We’ve got some good competition there too with the guys that have been behind them. I’m real excited about our group.”