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NFL Roster Cuts: 5 Best Moves the 49ers Made in Creating 53-Man Roster

By Peter Panacy

Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) walks up the tunnel after a 31-21 win over the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) walks up the tunnel after a 31-21 win over the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood (11) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Davis (43) during the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The 49ers beat the Broncos 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood (11) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Davis (43) during the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The 49ers beat the Broncos 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4: Retaining Cornerback Chris Davis

Another winner of a heated 49ers camp battle is cornerback Chris Davis.

During training camp, Davis was amid a competition for the nickel corner role along with rookie Will Redmond and third-year pro Keith Reaser.

This competition was wide open, as defensive back Jimmie Ward is now moved to the outside.

The 25-year-old Davis probably wasn’t seen as a favorite. San Francisco has a history of using rookies in nickel roles — former CB Chris Culliver and Ward — so Redmond had to be seen as the favorite here.

But Redmond is still recovering from an ACL injury and didn’t look 100 percent in the preseason.

Davis looked just fine, albeit he struggled against the Green Bay Packers.

The positives outweighed the negatives though, and the 49ers have a much better an option in the slot instead of Redmond.

Next: Retaining LB Ray-Ray Armstrong