49ers safety position: What about Ed Reed and a rookie?

In case you missed it on Friday, there was a report that Dashon Goldson might very well be interested in Buffalo if he does not re-sign with the 49ers. Although Jim Harbaugh said he felt Dashon Goldson deserved to get paid, and viewed him as a priority, there is a very good chance Goldson could walk in free agency this year.

There will be plenty more discussion about Goldson's future over the next two weeks. In the meantime, I thought we might consider some of the alternatives out there. This is a good year to be looking for safety help, whether it be in the Draft or in free agency. There is talent to be had, and that is likely influencing the 49ers decision at the position.

I'm still not quite sure what the final answer is at safety, but Dylan had an interesting idea on Twitter.

If Goldson is on his way out, and the #49ers are not making a play for Revis. I think Ed Reed is worth talking about for one year

— Dylan DeSimone (@DeSimone80) February 28, 2013

There has not been a single connection made between the 49ers and Ed Reed. Rather, this is simply my own curiosity about Reed. Although Reed has lost a step, and is close to the end of the line, he is still a very solid NFL safety. If Dashon Goldson leaves the 49ers, odds seem pretty high the team will draft a safety. They have Trenton Robinson and Michael Thomas on the roster, and both will get a chance to compete for playing time later this summer. However, odds seem high that the team would look for a safety fairly high in the draft.

Mike Mayock posted his new top five by position. At safety, they ranked as follows:

1. Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
2. Matt Elam, Florida
3. Jonathan Cyprien, Florida International
4. Eric Reid, LSU
5. Shamarko Thomas, Syracuse

Mel Kiper has the same top four, but then he has Earl Wolff instead of Shamarko Thomas. Other options at safety include Baccari Rambo and D.J. Swearinger. I was talking to Dan Kadar and he provided a few thoughts on some of these safeties:

Vaccaro is better at covering guys off the line but has some movement issues in the deep half. Elam can close in a hurry, but he overpursues on the ball and can get beat over the top. Cyprien is probably the better all-around safety of the first three. Very good athlete. Reid is more of a run defender. Thomas is raw, but can play deep coverage.

Given the 49ers depth elsewhere, would it make some measure of sense to draft a safety, and work him in behind a guy like Ed Reed?