3 Players the San Francisco 49ers could target at underrated area of need in second wave of free agency

The San Francisco 49ers have addressed many of their needs in free agency, but they still have some work to do.

Last week, Mike Silver of The San Francisco Chronicle pointed to safety as a position the 49ers are targeting on the open market. The 49ers drafted Ji'Ayir Brown with their top pick in the 2023 draft in the third round and have a 2022 All-Pro at the position in Talanoa Hufanga. However, with Hufanga coming off a torn ACL and veteran Tashaun Gipson unsigned after the 49ers convinced him not to retire last offseason, San Francisco's desire for a third option is understandable.

A saturated market at a position that has long since been undervalued means there are still a host of potential targets for the 49ers as they look to solidify an area of the team in which they are short on depth. Here I look at three safeties who should be near the top of their list.

Justin Simmons

The Broncos parted with Simmons last week, releasing him just two years after signing a safety long since recognized as a premier player at the position to a four-year, $61 million extension.

At his best the archetypal free safety with the range to excel as the single-high player, Simmons is now 31 and has dealt with injuries in recent seasons. Yet he was still seventh among safeties with at least 20 targets in Cover 0, Cover 1 and Cover 3 in Expected Points Added allowed per target, per Sports Info Solutions, and has earned second-team All-Pro honors in each of the last three seasons.

A three-interception 2023 campaign was the first since 2019 in which he recorded fewer than five. Simmons had a league-leading six in 2022.

Simmons has 51 pass breakups over the last five seasons, the most among all safeties in that time. Even if he isn't quite the player he used to be, Simmons would be an extremely astute signing by the 49ers, one who would offer them more playmaking ability and give San Francisco more flexibility by allowing Brown and Hufanga to move around even more regularly. 

After the Super Bowl 58 loss and some of the questionable calls made by former coordinator Steve Wilks, the 49ers may be reluctant to lean on man coverage looks very often, but Simmons' history of prowess as a single-high safety would expand the menu in that regard.

Quandre Diggs

But if the 49ers want a safety well-versed in a defense that has its origins in the Pete Carroll Seattle defense, then they could simply grab a safety just released by the Seahawks and with the recent history of impressing within it,.

Diggs made three successive Pro Bowls from 2020 to 2022, registering 14 interceptions across that period.

His production dropped off significantly last season, Diggs picking off just one pass. However, he still impressed in the zone coverages in which the 49ers major. Among safeties with at least 10 targets across Cover 2, Cover 3, Cover 4 and Cover 6, Diggs was tied for 11th with Gipson for completion rate allowed (42.9%).

At 31, there's a chance Diggs could be beginning on the downswing of a stellar career. However, his coverage numbers say otherwise and the 49ers won't find many players on the open market in a better position to make an immediate impact in this system.

Julian Blackmon

He may not have the name brand value of Simmons and Diggs, but a move for Blackmon would be the smartest signing they could make on the safety market.

Blackmon posted superior on-ball production to both last season as he enjoyed a career year for the Indianapolis Colts, recording eight pass breakups and four interceptions, both of which served as career highs. He also registered a career-high five tackles for loss.

That production in coverage was certainly no fluke. Blackmon allowed a completion on just 11 of his 22 targets for just 130 yards. His passer rating against of 28.8 was the best in the NFL among safeties with at least 20 targets. 

The fifth best safety in the NFL by Expected Points Added allowed per target, Blackmon is a dynamic playmaker who has recent history of excelling in coverage and is still yet to reach his prime years. It's a surprise he's still on the market at this point, and the 49ers would be wise to change that situation.