SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The San Francisco 49ers continued its focus on retaining its own free agents on Monday, agreeing to the terms of a one-year contract with cornerback Jason Verrett.
Niners general manager John Lynch announced the deal on social media, tweeting that he is “excited” to have Verrett back with the team.
The deal is worth $ 5.5 million with incentives that could increase, according to a league source. The terms of the deal were first reported by the NFL Network.
Fired to have @ Jfeeva_2 back with the team! 🔥 Congratulations JV!
– John Lynch (@ JohnLynch49ers) March 15, 2021
Less than 24 hours after defender Kyle Juszczyk agreed to stay with the Niners, Verrett became the second of the team’s top four priority free agents to sign again. San Francisco is still working to maintain left tackle Trent Williams and nickel cornerback K’Waun Williams.
Keeping Verrett was critical for a team that has almost all of its best cornerbacks reaching the free-agent market. With Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley resuming last week, the Niners still have needs in place, but have at least two obvious initial options under contract.
After injuries limited him to six games in the previous four seasons, Verrett was finally healthy and productive last season, emerging as the 49ers’ most reliable cornerback in 2020.
Verrett, 29, played 13 games last season, the first time he has appeared in so many tournaments since playing 14 games in 2015. He posted two interceptions and seven pass separations, while recording 60 tackles, the record of your career.
The 49ers originally signed with Verrett as a free agent in 2019, after he spent five injury-filled seasons with the Chargers. He appeared in just 25 games in those five seasons due to multiple injuries, the most serious of which was an Achilles tendon tear he suffered in 2018.
Verrett played only three snaps for the Niners in 2019, but they rehired him last season and he got back closer to his 2015 form when he won his first and only Pro Bowl appearance.