San Francisco 49ers free agency 2019: Top 5 targets

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 21: Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr (55) during the National Football League Game between the New York Jets and the Minnesota Vikings on October 21, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 30: Seattle Seahawks defensive back Earl Thomas (29) warms up before the NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals on September 30, 2018 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. FS Earl Thomas (Seattle Seahawks)

If revenge is a dish best served cold, could the San Francisco 49ers be getting ready to hand a division rival a second helping free-agent wise?

A year ago, there was a mass of house cleaning in the Pacific Northwest. One of the more noted cuts by the Seattle Seahawks was cornerback Richard Sherman. After his release, he was determined to come back and haunt his former employer and latched on with the San Francisco 49ers. These days, veteran safety Earl Thomas is about to hit the unrestricted free agent market and his displeasure with the ‘Hawks has been quite apparent for more than a year. Yes, the six-time Pro Bowler is coming off a season in which he was limited to only four games after suffering a broken leg in his team’s Week 4 win at Arizona. In 2018, he finished with 22 tackles and picked off three passes.

Why is that former number notable? That’s one more theft than the Niners had all of this past season, when the club set a dubious NFL record for fewest interceptions (two) in a single season. San Francisco also set another disappointing league mark with just seven takeaways this past year.

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In nine seasons with the Seahawks, Thomas has picked off 28 passes and recovered five fumbles. Throw in 67 passes defensed and 11 forced fumbles and the three-time All-Pro would be the ideal addition to a defensive unit screaming for playmakers.