Donte

Whitner

As opposed to most first-round disputes, Whitner is willing to take a five-year deal but wants more than the $12.9 million Buffalo has offered. Matt Bowen has impressed in camp.

A vicious hitter, Whitner was a bit of a surprise in the top ten. But he should provide an upgrade over Matt Bowen and Coy Wire and is an excellent dynasty IDP target. Whitner missed eight days of training camp while holding out. Only Jason Allen and Matt Leinart remain unsigned.

Harbaugh has been more confident than Gore all week, and that remains the case. It looks like Gore will give it a go Sunday, but Kendall Hunter and even Anthony Dixon are slated for heavier workloads.

Whitner has 11 tackles and one interception through three games. LeSean McCoy and the Eagles’ running game gets a boost if the thumper can’t go.

He was limited all week in practice, but the 49ers will need everything he has to stop LeSean McCoy today. Whitner was called “highly questionable” heading into today’s game, so there’s a good chance he’s at less than 100 percent.

The Chan Gailey regime is apparently shaking things up, and it’s a surprise that Whitner is considered a starter. Look for him to be pushed hard by George Wilson for the right to line up next to FS Jairus Byrd in Week 1. Safety is one of the few positions at which the Bills actually have quality.

“That’s what I do. It’s my last name and removing a letter makes it pretty cool,” he said. One of the league’s poster boys for illegal hits on defenseless receivers, Whitner was most recently fined $21,000 for his shot on Chris Givens last Thursday night. He’s hoping to get the change implemented on his jersey by this Sunday. Once it happens, Whitner will reportedly have to purchase all the remaining inventory of merchandise with his old name on it.

The 49ers franchise tagged S Dashon Goldson in 2012, but appear ready to let Whitner and Brown walk unless they’re willing to accept team-friendly deals. There’s little reason for either to do so before getting a whiff of the open market. In between doling out his trademark illegal hits and mulling changing his last name to “Hitner,” Whitner had a strong 2013, grading out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 6 safety. Appearing in all 16 games for the third time in four years, Whitner notched 73 tackles, two picks and two forced fumbles. Whitner turns 29 in July.

SS Donte Whitner, CB Tarell Brown, and WR Anquan Boldin would appear to be the most likely candidates for the tag. The 49ers would like to re-sign all three, but the tenders at each position are awfully high. It would cost the 49ers about $8 million to tag Whitner, $11.5 million to tag Boldin, and $11.2 million to slap it on Brown. Whitner is just 28 and is our No. 3 free-agent safety.

It could be an indication the Panthers aren’t sold on third-year pro Tre Boston opposite FS Kurt Coleman. Whitner was cut by the rebuilding Browns in April, but had a passable 2015. Whitner’s lone previous visit came in April to the Rams, but he’s the kind of player who could get a big boost from the Panthers’ DB-friendly scheme. He can’t be that much worse than Roman Harper.