San Francisco 49ers free agency 2020: Top 5 targets

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to avoid the pressure from Chris Jones #95 of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. The Chiefs won the game 31-20. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 22: Tre Boston #33 of the Carolina Panthers warms up before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

2. S Tre Boston (Carolina Panthers)

It’ll be interesting to see if general manager John Lynch does indeed bring back one of franchise’s first-round draft choices that was there before he took over the club in 2017. Safety Jimmie Ward was the 30th overall pick three years earlier and the former Northern Illinois standout has struggled to stay healthy throughout his NFL career.

Only once in six seasons has Ward played in all 16 games. That was in 2015, when he made eight starts and finished with 57 stops. This past season, the versatile performer made a career-high 13 starts and finished with a personal-best 60 tackles and also five more on special teams.

While Boston failed to pick off a pass, he knocked down eight attempts and also managed one sack. Ward added a combined 17 tackles during the team’s three-game postseason run and once again was a factor on the kick coverage teams.

Will Ward return to the club? NBCS Bay Area Sports’ Matt Maiocco has his own take. In the meantime, could the Niners take a look at talented Tre Boston, who’s bounced around the league in a relatively short time? He just wrapped up his second stint with Carolina, who drafted him in the fourth round back in 2014.

Boston has totaled 14 interceptions and amassed 38 passes defense in six seasons with the Panthers, Chargers and Cardinals.

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