:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/9564227/160338223.0.jpg)
On Monday afternoon, as 49ers fans were just getting started on the Anquan Boldin trade discussion, Albert Breer tweeted out that a source felt that Ed Reed would end up with the 49ers. The Ravens free safety has been unable to work out a new deal with the Ravens, and hired an agent on Monday to help navigate the free agent waters.
Adam Schefter has followed up on Albert Breer's tweet with his own tweet about the situation:
If 49ers lose S Dashon Goldson, some around league expecting them to make push for free-agent S Ed Reed. Could be Reed and Boldin in SF.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2013
This is somewhat new information in that it likely means further confirmation that people think the 49ers will make a run at Ed Reed. If the 49ers do go after Ed Reed, it raises some questions about how the 49ers plan on addressing the safety position in the future.
They have Donte Whitner for one more year, and then the rest of the safety depth chart includes C.J. Spillman, Trenton Robinson and Michael Thomas. Darcel McBath has not yet been tendered so even if he does come back on a new contract, he is not exactly in their long term plans.
At this point, we do not know what Robinson's future holds. The 49ers selected Robinson in the sixth round, and he spent a good chunk of the season inactive. As a sixth round pick, the investment isn't high enough that the 49ers would not consider a first or second pick on a safety this year. But it does leave at least a little bit of doubt about the 49ers plans at the position. This is not to say the team thinks C.J. Spillman, Trenton Robinson and/or Michael Thomas are the future, but we're left to speculate until we see what the 49ers do with the safety position in free agency and the draft.