The 49ers are auditioning free agent safety Jairus Byrd today, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Byrd will take part in a workout along with a group of other defensive backs, per Schefter.
While San Francisco currently boasts one starting caliber safety in Eric Reid, the club’s other safety position is a bit more murky. Jimmie Ward, a former first-round pick who’s spent his career playing nickel corner, is expected to transition to free safety for the 2017 campaign. Other safeties on the 49ers’ depth chart include Jaquiski Tartt, Don Jones, and Vinnie Sunseri, with the latter two being almost exclusively special teams players.
Byrd, 30, certainly never lived up to the six-year, $54MM contract he inked with the Saints prior to the 2014 campaign, but there’s reason to think he can still be an effective player. On 900 defensive snaps last season, Byrd posted 82 tackles, two interceptions, and three passes defensed while grading as the No. 47 safety among 90 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. 2016 also marked the first time Byrd, a former All Pro, had played the entire 16-game slate since 2012.
A free agent since being released by New Orleans in February, Byrd’s visit with the 49ers will be the first known meeting he’s taken since hitting the open market.
The 9ers D may b decent enough if Ward can b a solid safety. Real good DLine. 2 nice LBs. 1 good starting safety. If u can get anything out of the young corners the D can carry the team to a few more wins.
I agree. I think their D is much improved and has some potential. I expect to see improvement from Buckner and Armstead especially with Armstead finally healthy. I also think their safeties should be pretty decent. I always thought Reid was better suited as a SS and Ward is a natural FS. The CB position worries me but there is actually some talent there as well. I don’t think they’ll be a playoff team at all this season but I think it’s a fair bet to say they will be a lot better this year and by the following season they should be in the mix for a Wild Card spot especially with the young talent, draft picks next year and all the money they’ll have again.