© Tommy Gilligan | 2020 Aug 18
Earl Thomas punched his ticket to free agency.
The seven-time Pro Bowler was cut by the Ravens over the weekend after punching teammate Chuck Clark during practice. The team said in a statement that Thomas’ conduct had “adversely affected the Baltimore Ravens”
The exit ends Thomas’ tenure with the Ravens after one season. Before heading to Baltimore, Thomas was considered arguably the best free safety in the NFL for nine seasons in Seattle, the majority of which he spent playing alongside Richard Sherman.
Considering that relationship, would the 49ers be willing to take a flyer on Thomas after not aggressively pursuing Jamal Adams earlier this offseason?
According to 49ers beat writer Matt Barrows, the 49ers already have a free safety they like.
“(Thomas) was a free agent a couple of years ago, at a time when the 49ers really didn’t have a clear starter at free safety, and the 49ers went with Jimmie Ward instead of Earl Thomas,” Barrows told Murph & Mac Monday morning. “Now they’ve got Ward under contract for something like 3 years, $29 million he signed earlier this year. From a financial standpoint I don’t think that it fits.
“Now if Jimmie Ward got hurt tomorrow, that’s a possibility. I think the 49ers might shoot to the top of the list of potential suitors. I don’t want to say outright it would never happen, I just don’t see it happening given the current situation.”
The 49ers enter the 2020 season with the exact same defensive back group that they had in 2019. San Francisco is comfortable with the pairing of Ward and fellow safety Jaquiski Tartt, who is due to hit free agency himself next offseason.
Add the fact that the shrinking salary cap is likely to make the financial situation even more difficult for the 49ers in 2021, adding more money to the payroll may not be advisable.
Finally healthy after an early career defined by injuries, Ward looked every bit like the player the 49ers drafted in the first round in 2014.
“They like their group. They obviously like Jimmie Ward, they signed him as a free agent the last two years. The locker room really likes him. That’s their free safety moving forward.”
Listen to the full interview below.
