If today were March 17, the 49ers’ cornerbacks heading for 2021 would account for a total of just 11 of San Francisco’s defensive snap shots last season. Each of these crackles came from Ken Webster, who was hired from the Miami Dolphins training team in Week 2 and appeared in nine games and recorded four tackles and a forced fumble on special teams.
In addition to Webster, who again signed a one-year contract in January, Tim Harris Jr. (49ers 2019, choice of seventh round), Adonis Alexander (signed Reserve / Future contract in January 2021) and Mark Fields II (claimed waivers) in March 2021), are the only cornerbacks that enter the season under contract for the league’s leading defense of passes.
Needless to say, the cornerback appears to be the most urgent need for 49ers in this off-season. Richard Sherman, Jason Verrett, Ahkello Witherspoon, K’Waun Williams and Jamar Taylor, who started at least three games for San Francisco in 2020, are at the end of their winning contracts. Emmanuel Moseley, a restricted free agent, adds to the list of corners that could explore options elsewhere in this off-season.
49ers may seek to replace the defensive backs that are coming out of veteran talent in the open market starting next week. March 15 is the official date for the opening of the legal negotiation window before the free agency. While there is a notable amount of depth in the position, those available come with their share of question marks. Pro Football Focus rated the strength of the free agency cornerback class as a B-, with the proviso that, despite the quality seasons on their resume, very few showed consistency or are coming out of their best season.
An alternative and inexpensive option for San Francisco is to get plug and play talent through the draft. San Francisco currently has the 12th overall choice, with a number of pressing needs that the team can address in that position. In addition, San Francisco has general choice No. 43 in the second round. The direction of the 49ers next month is likely to weigh heavily on his move at the free agency.
Patrick Surtain II, from Alabama, and Caleb Farley, from Virginia Tech, are two of the best cornerbacks in this year’s draft and both were set in the 49ers in the first round. In addition to the cornerback, several simulated drafts connected the offensive line, the defender and even the tight end position for the 49ers at No. 12. If the 49ers choose to take a different direction in the first round, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah , thinks there are many opportunities for cornerback defenses needed to reach talent with immediate quality impact beyond the first 32 choices.
“It’s a really good group of corners in the second round and after that, it really starts to drop off my list,” said Jeremiah in a two-hour conference call on Tuesday. “For those teams looking for corners, they all go. So you better start this race at the beginning of the first or second round.”
Jeremiah offered two groups of starting cornerbacks. The primary consists of four candidates who are likely to leave the board in the first round: Farley, Surtain II, Jaycee Horn of South Carolina and Greg Newsome II of Northwestern. Depending on the needs of the final round, Jeremiah believes that Newsome II can slide into the second round.
In addition to this quartet, Jeremiah sees a small drop between the curves projected for the first round. However, he envisions an opportunity for Round 2 prospects to continue to increase their draft inventory through Professional Days and player ratings in the coming weeks.
“I think we will see four guys separated from the group,” he added. “You’re going to have Farley. You’re going to have Surtain II. These are going to be in the Top 2. I think there’s a bit of a difference between these guys and then you get to Jaycee Horn. I think Greg Newsome II is quickly closing this space with Jaycee horn for the fact that I wouldn’t be shocked if Newsome II ended up going in front of him. I think it’s those four guys, and for me there is a little drop where you have a few more questions about the guys after the big four. “
Here is a list of potential customers that Jeremiah believes can be found valuable for San Francisco in the second round:
Greg Newsome II, Northwestern: “He just ran 4.31, according to a GM who just sent me a Pro Day message. So, he won’t be there in the second round. He’ll probably end up in his 20s when it’s all said and done. But he is a very good football player. “
Kelvin Joseph, Kentucky: “(Joseph) is very, very fluid (e) athletic. He has great ball skills. He’s one of those guys who was burned by (Florida’s tight end Kyle) Pitts, but I’m not going to use that against him.”
Aaron Robinson, Central Florida: “(Robinson) played mainly in there, but he is very tough, physical (and) aggressive. Easy, easy speed.”
Tyson Campbell, Georgia: “If you’re looking for big curves, I think the two Georgian curves are going to happen in the second round. When you look at Tyson Campbell, as well as (Eric) Stokes from Georgia, these two guys are big and fast.”
Eric Stokes, Georgia: “Eric Stokes, the other day, everyone saw the training; he was running like the 4.2s. So these two guys, one was state champion in Georgia in high school, the other was state champion in Florida. Those are big time sizes , speed curves that I think you’ll see appear on the sign there in the second round. “