When the San Francisco 49ers signed veteran safety Ashtyn Davis last week, the move didn't create the same buzz as some of the team's bigger offseason additions. But one former 49ers defensive player believes the signing could have a much bigger impact than many expect, especially for a current 49ers starter in the secondary.
Former 49ers safety Donte Whitner believes Davis wasn't brought in to provide depth. He believes the veteran defender will have a real opportunity to compete for a starting role in San Francisco's secondary. And if so, that could be bad news for Ji'Ayir Brown.
Davis, who signed a one-year deal with the 49ers after spending time with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, brings six years of NFL experience to a safety room that has been searching for more consistency. The 29-year-old started 12 games for Miami last season and finished with 63 tackles, four passes defended, one forced fumble, and an interception.
Speaking on "The Grit Code" podcast, Whitner suggested the move was about more than adding another body to the roster. "I don't think this move was made for him to be a backup," Whitner said. "He's coming to this team to compete for a starting job. I think this was a move to Ji'Ayir Brown and said, 'We gave you two years as a starter. In this third year, we cannot allow you to be a detriment to our success, and if you start the season the way that you ended last season, we have a bunch of other guys in this locker room that we will replace you with.'"
One of the biggest questions heading into training camp will be how the safety competition unfolds. Brown has held a starting role, but the 49ers have been looking for continued improvement and more stability on the back end of the defense. Brown has not improved since his rookie season.
Davis enters the competition with something valuable: experience. He has appeared in 84 career games with 34 starts and has recorded 217 tackles, nine interceptions, and five forced fumbles.
For the 49ers, the addition creates another option in a position group that could see one of the more interesting battles of training camp. While Davis may not have arrived with the expectations of a marquee signing, Whitner believes the veteran safety could push for a much larger role than many anticipated. If Davis can bring the same playmaking ability and reliability he showed during his previous stops, he could quickly become one of the most important additions to San Francisco's defense.
Watch the entire podcast episode below:
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