SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers should be super-interested in signing and, perhaps, giving a significant pay raise to veteran safety Earl Thomas, whom the Baltimore Ravens released on Sunday morning.
If the Dallas Cowboys want to sign Thomas, as NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday, owner Jerry Jones better come after Thomas strong with a big contract to block the 49ers before they can act.
Yep, that makes sense. Right?
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So what if the 49ers were not interested in Thomas when he was an unrestricted free agent in March of 2019?
Now, Thomas has a little more experience. And the reported on-field altercation with then-Ravens teammate Chuck Clark that prompted the Ravens to release him is just the kind of fighting spirit that should convince the 49ers to change their minds.
And so what if the 49ers did not even make a phone call to the New York Jets earlier this offseason about young, rising safety Jamal Adams, according to general manager John Lynch.
OK, seriously ...
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are happy with their safeties, especially free safety Jimmie Ward.
The club signed Ward to a three-year, $28.5 million contract this offseason. He plays the spot in the 49ers’ defensive backfield at which Thomas excelled when he was in his prime with the Seattle Seahawks.
Jaquiski Tartt enters his contract year at strong safety after putting together a consistent 2019 season as the starter. He gutted it out in the playoffs with fractured ribs.
The 49ers are even confident in young backups, Tarvarius Moore and Marcell Harris. The club brought in a low-price veteran option, Johnathan Cyprien, to add competition and become an option for an expanded practice squad this season.
The last thing they need is to spend salary-cap money on Thomas that they could be saving to re-sign some of their own players.
Last month, Lynch said on KNBR that he was amused that every time there is a well-known player available, the rumor mill churns with speculation that the player could be heading to the 49ers.
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“I love it seems to be that every guy that’s up for a trade that we’re involved,” Lynch said. “I love that people talk about the Niners.”
But this also serves a useful purpose, too.
If that means that agents and players can use the 49ers’ supposed-interest to secure more compensation from another team around the league, the 49ers should be just fine with that.