Report: S Tony Jefferson plans to meet with the 49ers in 2-3 weeks

Josina Anderson reported that free agent safety Tony Jefferson is currently scheduling visits. Anderson said that Jefferson plans to meet with the 49ers first in two to three weeks in an attempt to come back to the NFL.

The 29-year-old safety didn’t play in the NFL during the 2020 regular-season. Baltimore released Jefferson in February of 2020 due to injury. Jefferson tore his ACL and LCL in his left knee during the 2019 regular season. He missed 11 games due to a knee injury. Jefferson also missed two games with an ankle injury in 2018.

Jefferson signed a four-year, $34 million contract that included $19 million guaranteed with the Ravens in 2017 after a tremendous final year with the Cardinals. When Jefferson was on the field for Baltimore, he was one of the most effective defensive backs in the NFL.

Before he went down in 2019, Jefferson was playing out of his mind. He broke up five passes on seven targets. Jefferson has the type of versatility where you feel comfortable letting him rush the passer.

He hasn’t played football in a year, so expectations would have to be tempered. But Jefferson is an intriguing potential addition. With the addition of Jaquiski Tartt and knowing Tarvarius Moore has more experience, DeMeco Ryans could be hinting at a higher use of a “dime” defense with the interest in Jefferson and the team already having signed Tavon Wilson.

The interest in as many safeties also hints at the importance of having a backup for Tartt due to his injury history and how the Niners front office feels about both the rookie safety draft class and Marcell Harris. Last year, Harris made too many mental mistakes which led to big plays. The same type of plays that veterans such as Jefferson, Tartt, and Wilson make routinely.