Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Best and Worst Players at Each Position Entering 2017

By Peter Panacy

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up with quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) warms up with quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jimmie Ward 49ers
January 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers strong safety Jimmie Ward (25) runs the football during the fourth quarter against the St. Louis Rams at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Rams 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Cornerback

Best Player: Jimmie Ward

Worst Player: Keith Reaser

Three years into his NFL career, it’s safe to say the 49ers are getting a nice return on their 2014 first-round investment, defensive back Jimmie Ward.

Ward shifted almost exclusively to cornerback in 2016, and saw plenty of time in the nickel — a position he struggled with during his rookie season. And yet Pro Football Focus dished out a 75.8 overall grade for him, which was second in the Niners secondary.

Rookie corner Rashard Robinson could be on this list, but he faltered down the stretch. Again, young defensive backs tend to do this. So it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him mentioned once 2017 is said and done.

Keith Reaser, on the other hand, has been a major disappointment. And yet injuries to key positions in the secondary forced the Niners to rely on him more and more as the season wore on.