Niner Noise
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NFL free agency: Ranking 49ers’ top 5 targets for 2018

By Aaron Tan

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 12: Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears knocks the ball away from Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on October 12, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 12: Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears knocks the ball away from Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on October 12, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 12: Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears knocks the ball away from Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on October 12, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 12: Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears knocks the ball away from Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on October 12, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Cornerback Kyle Fuller

There is one position that the 49ers need more than guard, and that is cornerback. Over the past decade, San Francisco has not been a team known for good corners. They always had serviceable ones, but never truly great ones. And this past season they were truly bad ones, with the exceptions of rising rookie Ahkello Witherspoon and nickel corner K’Waun Williams.

The sad thing is that the 49ers would have a truly dominating secondary if they just had good corners. The team is set at safety for a long time with Adrian Colbert, Jaquiski Tartt, Jimmie Ward and possibly Eric Reid, all young and great safeties. If the 49ers are able to pick up a good cornerback, teams will find it hard to pass on coordinator Robert Saleh’s defense, which called for a ton of soft zone this season, due to the fact that the cornerbacks were prone to getting burnt by opposing receivers.

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Kyle Fuller would change all that. Bringing in Fuller would eliminate soft zone-coverage calls and more opportunities to bring blitzes to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Fuller is a cornerback that executes the position’s job with brilliance. He always plays tight coverage on his receiver and is often physical with them, garnering many PBU’s (pass breakups).

Fuller is also a ballhawk, snagging eight interceptions through the course of his career. Side note: He was the first player to intercept Jimmy Garoppolo in the NFL.

Fuller would not come cheap, but he would be worth it. Cornerback is arguably the 49ers’ most pressing need, and Fuller would significantly upgrade the position.

Next: 5 49ers in line for a breakout year in 2018

With the addition of Fuller, the 49ers’ secondary would be considered a great one, which hasn’t been called that in a very long time. And a great secondary is what could very well take this team to a Super Bowl.