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Predicting 49ers 2016 Depth Chart Before Training Camp

By Peter Panacy

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 /
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Nov 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) warms up prior to the game against the St. Louis Rams at Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) warms up prior to the game against the St. Louis Rams at Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

Left Cornerback

Starter: Tramaine Brock

Backup: Dontae Johnson

Nickel: Will Redmond

The No. 1 cornerback position doesn’t appear to be up for grabs and, in all likelihood, 27-year-old veteran Tramaine Brock gets the nod here.

Brock led all 49ers defenders with 11 pass breakups a year ago and was tied for the team lead in interceptions (three) as well. Backing him up will be 2014 draftee Dontae Johnson who, at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, offers a bit of a size advantage over a number of the other corners on San Francisco’s roster.

Johnson gets the edge over fellow corner Kenneth Acker, largely due to the latter’s falling off towards the tail end of 2015.

Whether or not rookie corner Will Redmond gets the nod at nickel will hinge largely on his recovery from a collegiate ACL injury. General manager Trent Baalke (h/t Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area) insisted Redmond would be ready to go for training camp.

The 49ers have placed rookie defensive backs into the nickel role in recent years, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to see Redmond penciled in here.

Next: Right Cornerback