NFL free agency is still six weeks away, giving teams like the San Francisco 49ers a chance to find some quick fixes and bid on veteran talent. Pro Football Focus (PFF) analyst Mason Cameron recently identified several impending free-agent defensive backs and predicted potential landing spots for each. He listed the 49ers as a possible destination for two—though neither were among the team's own impending free agents.
Interestingly, Cameron projected All-Pro cornerback Charvarius Ward as a potential fit for the New England Patriots or Minnesota Vikings, while All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga could land with the Denver Broncos or Indianapolis Colts.
Losing either player would be a significant blow for the 49ers, who may struggle to outbid other teams for each's services.
Instead, Cameron sees New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed and Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis as strong candidates to join the 49ers. Reed ranks sixth on Pro Football Focus' free-agent list, while Davis comes in at 21st.
A familiar face: D.J. Reed's possible return
Reed's name should ring a bell for 49ers fans. The team originally drafted him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and he quickly became a favorite among the coaching staff. However, a series of strategic roster moves backfired, exposing him to waivers, where the Seattle Seahawks claimed him in 2020. Two years later, Reed signed with the Jets.
With Robert Saleh returning to San Francisco as defensive coordinator, Cameron believes a Reed-49ers reunion makes perfect sense.
"With Robert Saleh returning to San Francisco as defensive coordinator, Reed and the 49ers should have a mutual interest in reaching a deal to reunite the cornerback with his former defensive play caller in New York," Cameron wrote. "Reed endured a noticeable drop in PFF coverage grade pre- and post-Saleh coaching with the Jets, with his 90.8 mark plummeting to 54.0 from Week 5 onward this season."
A reunion with Reed will depend on his asking price in free agency. The 49ers aren't expected to be big spenders in March, but they may look for creative ways to manage the salary cap and add key contributors to keep the roster competitive.
Carlton Davis: A potential upgrade?
Cameron also sees Davis as a strong fit for Saleh's defense, even suggesting he could be an upgrade over Ward—despite Davis ranking 21st on PFF's free-agent list and Ward coming in at 13th.
"Robert Saleh is back at the helm of the 49ers' defense, and the expectation is that he will look to emulate the vaunted unit he coached in New York, characterized by its healthy use of Cover 1," Cameron wrote. "Davis could even prove to be an upgrade over the departing Charvarius Ward in Saleh's scheme."
Will the 49ers be able to afford Davis, though? Pro Football Focus contributor Bradley Locker recently named him among 10 free agents who "deserve to get paid," and his projected market value might put him out of reach.
"After being traded by the Buccaneers to the Lions, Davis proved to be exactly what Detroit had hoped," Locker wrote. "His 72.1 PFF coverage grade was the best among starting Lions outside cornerbacks, not to mention his highest since 2021. Davis also added a strong 77.7 PFF run-defense grade, receiving a positive grade on 6.6% of run snaps — the eighth-best clip among qualified cornerbacks.
"Having proven his mettle with two established franchises, the 28-year-old Davis could sneakily be the second-best cornerback on the market. He should vault himself into a deal over $15.5 million per season."
If the 49ers lose Ward, targeting a player like Davis could be a logical move. However, with quarterback Brock Purdy poised for a lucrative contract extension, the team must be more strategic with its salary cap spending.