San Francisco 49ers: Why Tramaine Brock Might Lose His Starting Job in 2016

The San Francisco 49ers cornerback depth chart is loaded with potential starters. Incumbent Tramaine Brock will face competition from multiple players and may lose his starting job in 2016.

The San Francisco 49ers drafted three cornerbacks in the 2016 NFL Draft. Two of those three players were selected with the team’s third and fourth picks in the draft. Those players aren’t brought in to be camp bodies. They’re brought in to compete.

In addition to the cornerbacks selected, the 49ers have a cornerback depth chart full of young guys that will begin challenging for playing time.

Kenneth Acker was a starter last season after beating out sophomore Keith Reaser in the preseason. Reaser saw limited playing time but is entering his third season–and only second fully-healthy–as a valuable depth player.

Tramaine Brock, with a handful of young and athletic cornerbacks behind him on the depth chart, is in danger of losing his starting role in 2016.

The San Francisco 49ers gave Tramaine Brock a contract extension in November of 2013. At the time, he was an up-and-coming cornerback that played well enough to impress on a defense that was one of the best in the NFL.

Since then, however, Brock has failed to solidify himself as a true shutdown corner. The 49ers extended him at a time when they felt they could maximize his value.

Brock has only recorded four interceptions since signing his extension in 2013. When signing it, Brock had four interceptions in the 2013 season alone.

In building the secondary, it appeared as though the 49ers expected Brock to serve as the team’s dominant cornerback. They’ve drafted safeties Jaquiski Tartt and Jimmie Ward early and, until the most-recent NFL draft, spent late picks to build the depth behind Brock.

All of the moves pointed to the front office’s assumption that they extended Brock while he was ascending in his career trajectory. In reality, he may have hit his plateau.

Brock entered the 2014 season as the unquestioned leader on the cornerback depth chart for the 49ers. Unfortunately, a toe injury in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys slowed Brock’s season significantly. Brock went on to appear in only three games in 2014.

The 2015 season was better in terms of availability–Brock started 15 games–but his statistical impact wasn’t worthy of a number one cornerback label. The 49ers pass-rush wasn’t nearly as effective as recent years and Brock wasn’t as protected as a result.

He also didn’t do much to help himself.

The 2016 NFL Draft sent a clear message to Brock and every other cornerback on the roster–time to get better or get benched. The two cornerbacks that were selected early both played in the Southeastern Conference and come with experience against NFL-level competition.

Will Redmond played at Mississippi State and–although he tore his ACL in October–has participated in early portions of practices thus far. Rashard Robinson joined the team after sitting out the 2015 season but he flashed impressive athleticism as a freshman at LSU.

The 49ers selected two players that present challenges but, if they’re able to wait through the early development, could become starters on this defense sooner rather than later.

Additionally, early OTAs may give fans an indication of the team’s plans at defensive back moving forward.

Jimmie Ward has played primarily as the nickel cornerback in his two seasons with the 49ers. However, recent practice reports suggest that the team may be looking to utilize Ward far more frequently than simply as a nickel cornerback.

Sacramento Bee reporter and 49ers beat writer Matt Barrows noted Ward’s positional movement in his notes on the 49ers first day from OTAs:

"There were several players in new positions, perhaps most prominently Jimmie Ward. The former first-round draft pick spent his first two seasons entering the game as a nickel cornerback. On Tuesday, at least, he was a starting, outside cornerback who then moved inside to nickel cornerback on obvious passing downs. Tramaine Brock was the other first-team cornerback. Dontae Johnson played on the outside on nickel downs."

Ward’s movement outside is interesting because it essentially leaves Brock, Acker, Reaser, Robinson and Dontae Johnson to battle for the other starting spot at outside corner.

Redmond is seen primarily as a slot cornerback and, when healthy, might allow the team to leave Ward outside at corner permanently. Whether that’s wise or not is not up for discussion currently. Until Ward sees significant time at boundary corner, it’s hard to say whether he should play there long-term. 

At least in 2016, Brock will likely compete for the starting spot opposite of Ward. There’s no guarantee he’ll win that competition.

Dontae Johnson is entering his third season and may finally be prepared to secure a starting position. As Barrows noted above, Johnson is entering as a boundary corner in the nickel defense, suggesting the team sees him towards the top of the cornerback depth chart.

Johnson is 6’2″ and 200 pounds. He adds 31 and 1/2 inch arms and a 38 and 1/2 inch vertical jump to highlight the fact that he is a big corner that can play against the bigger receivers in the league.

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In the NFC West, facing receivers like Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd, and Los Angeles Rams Brian Quick and Kenny Britt, it helps to have size and length. All of those receivers are at least 6’3″ tall. Johnson provides immense benefits simply based on his body-type.

Brock will almost surely make the roster in 2016. He has been solid throughout his time with the team. The issue is that the team paid him at a time when they expected him to become a surefire play-making cornerback and he hasn’t met those expectations.

That isn’t necessarily a fault of his own. The 49ers, at the time they extended Brock, had an elite front-seven on defense that masked deficiencies in pass defense. Now, with many of those dominant players gone, the 49ers can’t hide the lack of talent in the defensive backfield.

In 2015, the 49ers only registered nine interceptions as a team, tying them for 26th in the league. Combine that with the three fumbles recovered by the team and it is clear they need playmakers on defense. Brock, despite playing well, may lose his role simply in favor of someone that creates turnovers.

The team may give players like Kenneth Acker and Donate Johnson an opportunity to start because of their aggressiveness and willingness to attack the ball. Sure, they miss plays every so often but that’s the opportunity cost of taking chances on interceptions.

Nobody has more long-term pressure to perform than Brock. The team has loaded the depth chart behind him with three or four players looking to take his position. Beating one of those men isn’t enough. Brock will have to continually standout as the best corner on the team.

He may not do that for much longer. Tramaine Brock enters the summer staring at the competition over his shoulder and they’re gaining ground. Brock may not be a starter for long in 2016.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN Statistics unless otherwise indicated.