According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, the San Francisco 49ers have agreed to terms with former Indianapolis Colts safety Antoine Bethea. It will be a 4-year.
Hearing that #49ers have reached agreement with Antoine Bethea on a four-year deal.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 11, 2014
According to Colts beat writer Mike Chappell, the deal is said to be worth $26 million over 4 years.
49ers reportedly gave Antoine Bethea 4 yrs, $26 million. Great for him, but that clearly was out of the #colts price range.
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) March 11, 2014
Bethea was drafted in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Colts. In his eight seasons with the Colts, Bethea has had 806 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 14 interceptions. However, in the past three seasons, he has only had 2 interceptions. Both of those were in 2013.
The 49ers lost safety Donte Whitner to the Cleveland Browns at the start of free agency.
Rotoworld has Bethea listed as the fourth best available safety in free agency, right behind Whitner.
SI writer Greg A. Bedard appears to think the signing is good.
Love Bethea. Love Niners getting him to replace Whitner. Bethea is a better all-around player.
— Greg A. Bedard (@GregABedard) March 11, 2014