Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL Free Agency: 10 Big-Name Players the 49ers Should Target in 2017

By Peter Panacy

Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 11
Next
Dec 27, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; St. Louis Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson (22) celebrates in the final minute against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; St. Louis Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson (22) celebrates in the final minute against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 9 Cornerback Trumaine Johnson

The 49ers already have a lot of cornerbacks on their roster. Aside from Jimmie Ward and Rashard Robinson though, none are exactly the kind one would want to build a secondary around.

Enter Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson.

Johnson finished 2016 with just one interception but was tied for the Rams lead in passes defended (11). And he had an 81.0 overall grade on the year, per Pro Football Focus, which would immediately be an upgrade over a large chunk of San Francisco’s defensive backs.

The 27-year-old Johnson won’t come cheap. He just finished up a $13.952 million contract year in Los Angeles.

But if the Niners want to splurge to seriously upgrade their secondary, Johnson would be a wise choice.

Why He Fits

Johnson would be the closest thing to a shutdown corner on the market, and the 49ers haven’t had one of those in a long, long time.

San Francisco’s secondary was routinely picked apart late in the season last year. And while the future of someone like Robinson looks bright, adding Johnson would ensure two young corners are on the outside. And the move would give the Niners the flexibility to keep Ward either at the nickel position or even to move him to his natural safety position.

Overall, the 49ers lack defensive playmakers. Johnson is on the verge of becoming one.