The spring cleaning continues for the San Francisco 49ers. On Monday, veteran wide receiver Torrey Smith was released. On Tuesday, Antoine Bethea joined him on his way out. Bethea’s release will free up over $5 million and the 49ers will have over $100 million in cap space. The 49ers will be aggressive in free agency and have been rumored as suitors for most of the top free agents.
With the release of Antoine, the 49ers look ready to give Jaquiski Tartt more playing time at strong safety. Tartt and Reid will both play at strong safety with Jimmie Ward possibly moving from cornerback to the other safety spot. Tartt has shown flashes in his limited playing time and it seems like the 49ers want to see how he will be able to help in Robert Saleh’s defense.
The rumors of Kirk Cousins coming to the 49ers are gaining steam. NFL Network’s Mike Silver mentioned that both Kirk and Kyle Shanahan likely want to reunite in San Francisco and that he thinks Kirk will end up as the 49ers starting quarterback. The biggest block would be the price to trade with Washington and the price for Kirk’s contract. He will want a long term deal that will pay him top quarterback money. The 49ers could also wait until next season because it is rumored that Kirk will not sign a long term deal with Washington.
49ers Links
Have to give Tartt a chance | New Starting Safeties (Barrows)
No thanks | Trevor Siemian An Option (Brzezinski)
A Redo For The WRs (Williams)
QB Wishlist (Kawakami)
Will still go early in the draft | Reuben Foster (Biderman)
Releasing Torrey Smith (49ers Staff)
Announcing The Release (Maiocco)
Doesn’t seem like a good pick at #2 | Fournette At #2 (Biderman)
Best of luck Torrey | Good Luck Torrey (Alper)
John Lynch Thanks Torrey (Biderman)
Need playmakers | Remodeling The WR Corp (Branch)
Leonard Fournette (Jones)
Definitely not at the rumored $15 million/yr | Not Interested In Mike Glennon (Maiocco)
49ers Positions (Inman)
Mike Glennon Rumors (Florio)
What will the price be? | Kirk Likely To Be 49ers QB (Brzezinski)
Mike Silver On Kirk (Jones)
Kyle and Kirk want to reunite | Kirk Cousins (Biderman)
Mike Glennon Not Coming To 49ers (Biderman)
Another QB To The Fold (Biderman)
The saga continues | San Francisco Or Washington (Florio)
Rebuilding the d-line depth | In For Cowboys D-Lineman (Biderman)
Free Agents (Fann)
Good move for the 49ers | Releasing Antoine Bethea (Fann)
Another Veteran Gone (Barrows)
Cutting A Safety (Cohn)
Getting Younger At Safety (Smith)
The Cuts Coming Fast For Veterans (Jones)
Good luck to Antoine | Antoine Bethea The Latest Player Released (Biderman)
Starting To Clean The Secondary (Meyer)
Antoine Released (Branch)
Moving On From Veterans (Maiocco)
There are a lot of CBs in the draft, which could be better options | Competition For A.J. Bouye (Jones)
Looking At CBs (Alper)
More Interest (Biderman)
Still In For Kirk (Cover32 Staff)