Charles Woodson Rumors: 49ers Would Be Smart to Sign Veteran Safety

Charles Woodson would be a perfect addition to the dominant San Francisco 49ers defense in 2013 as a replacement for the newly departed Dashon Goldson. 

Goldson agreed to a five-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per NFL Network's Albert Breer. 

On Tuesday evening, ESPN's Josina Anderson reported that Woodson would be visiting the 49ers:

As of 7:01 p.m. ET, Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group reported:

Woodson isn't a good long-term solution for the 49ers, because he doesn't have much left to give to the game of football. At the age of 36, he may have just one or two good years left in his bones.

But his one or two good years would be valuable to the 49ers while the team develops its next great safety. 

Woodson broke his collarbone last year and missed the majority of the season for the Green Bay Packers. During the games he did play, though, Woodson was effective.

If not for the nearly $10 million cap hit he would have cost the Packers, it's hard to imagine Green Bay would have cut him. 

Though Woodson isn't as fast or as lightning quick as he used to be, he hasn't forgotten how to play, and by all accounts, he's one of the all-time greatest defensive backs the NFL has ever seen. 

He's an incredibly smart and instinctive cover man who has amassed 55 career interceptions, including 26 in his past five years.

With Donte Whitner's struggles against the pass, adding a safety who can cover the back end like Woodson would allow him to keep doing what he does best, which is to enforce in the shallow middle on passing downs and dominate the line of scrimmage on running plays.

The best part about Woodson for the 49ers is that he isn't likely to demand a huge salary. His days of raking in top-dollar amounts are long past, and at this point in his career, he just wants to play for a winner (h/t NFL Network's Ian Rapoport). 

If the 49ers can sign Woodson to a team-friendly deal, Trent Baalke needs to pull the trigger. Draft a safety or two this year and let them learn from one of the legends of the NFL. 

This potential deal makes too much sense not to happen. Stay tuned...

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