Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 5 Best Position Battles to Watch This Offseason

By Rob Lowder

Nov 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) warm up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) warm up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Dec 27, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson (36) breaks up a pass intended for Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) during the first quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson (36) breaks up a pass intended for Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) during the first quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

Cornerback

Roster: Tramaine Brock, Jimmie Ward, Dontae Johnson, Kenneth Acker, Keith Reaser, Will Redmond, Rashard Robinson, Marcus Cromartie, Prince Charles Iworah, Chris Davis

As you can see, there is an absolute logjam at the cornerback position for the 49ers.

Baalke has elected to forge his starting CBs through the fire of what seems to an intense and crowded competition.

Despite having an up and down season, Brock leads the pack and will enter into the offseason as the team’s best option. Not far behind is Dontae Johnson, whom along with Kenneth Acker, saw starting snaps on the opposite side of the formation during the 2015 season.

August 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers strong safety Jimmie Ward (25) during the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi
August 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers strong safety Jimmie Ward (25) during the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi /

Jimmie Ward was earmarked for the inside corner, or nickel role, but the Sacramento Bee‘s Matt Barrows highlighted an interesting aspect of Ward’s location during the start of OTAs:

"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."

If this holds up, Ward will serve as another interesting competitor in the battle at outside corner.

Third and fourth-round picks Will Redmond and Rashard Robinson, while their place on the depth chart may seem uncertain, are nearly guaranteed a spot of the roster.

Whether the 49ers keep five or six cornerbacks, this looks to be the battle that will inflict the most casualties.

Next: Battle No. 3