San Francisco 49ers: 5 Dream targets in 2019 NFL free agency

Tyrann Mathieu, FS, Houston Texans

If the 49ers thought signing the aging Richard Sherman was the solve-all for their defensive backfield, they were sadly mistaken. It’s going to take much more than a fading cornerback coming off a major injury to upgrade the San Francisco secondary.

One option to make progress in 2019 is signing Tyrann Mathieu, a suddenly overlooked safety for the Houston Texans.

Not long ago, Mathieu was an All-Pro safety and one of the top defensive playmakers in the NFL. An injury and down year essentially tanked his stock, though, leading many folks to brush him off as an impact player. The Texans, however, gave him a shot this offseason and have reaped the rewards of their gamble.

Mathieu is back to his old self, flying around the field making plays and creating turnovers. Not only has he made the Arizona Cardinals regret their decision to show him the door, but he’s giving the rest of the league something to think about — that is, assuming he actually makes it to 2019 free agency. The Texans will certainly have plenty to consider when it comes to re-signing Mathieu.

If they don’t, the 49ers need to enter the mix for the veteran safety’s services. They could certainly use an upgrade on rookie D.J. Reed, who hasn’t exactly blown us away as the starting free safety. I can assure you replacing him with Mathieu would upgrade the San Francisco secondary tenfold.