If the 49ers want Jason Verrett, they will have to pay.
The veteran cornerback plans to target the free agency, according to Pro Football Chase. This decision makes sense for Verrett, a former first-round pick who could easily have made $ 100 million in his career if he had remained healthy. But instead, the 29-year-old earned “only” $ 19.5 million. He must go get what he can now.
He basically lost 2017, 2018 and 2019 with injuries, not to mention most of 2014 and 2016 as well. The only times he played more than 700 snaps in one season were 2015 and 2020. And the 802 snaps he played last season for the 49ers were a personal record.
He still lost three games.
Verrett has never played more than 14 games in one season. Next season, the NFL schedule will be expanded to 17 games. And Verrett will turn 30 on June 18th.
To be fair, he was fabulous last season – probably a top 10 cornerback in the NFL. He broke 7 passes, intercepted 2 passes, gave up a touchdown and allowed a passer rating of just 76.2. And in week 16 against the Arizona Cardinals, Verrett limited the All Pro DeAndre Hopkins wide receiver to just 4 receptions for 35 yards on 10 targets. Verrett eliminated him from the game, and the 49ers won with CJ Freaking Beathard as a defender. Verrett was the game’s MVP.
Therefore, your stock is higher than ever. He can probably get a more profitable deal than the $ 28.5 million three-year contract that the 49ers gave Jimmie Ward last year.
And the 49ers probably won’t give Verrett more than they did Ward.
They cannot afford to invest more money in another 30-year-old defense that fails to stay healthy. They need to spend most of their salary cap space on contract extensions for Fred Ward and Trent Williams, and have already invested heavily in injury-prone players. The 49ers need to let another team play the dice on Verrett’s future.
And then 49ers need to write a cornerback before the third round, something they haven’t done in 17 years.
Au revoir, Jason.