Predicting What the San Francisco 49ers Starting Lineup Looks Like in 2018
By Peter Panacy
Cornerback
Right Cornerback: Rashard Robinson
Left Cornerback: Free Agent
Nickel Corner: Will Redmond
The 49ers have a lot of cornerbacks. But outside of second-year pro Rashard Robinson, there aren’t exactly a lot inspiring confidence.
Robinson likely starts in his third year, if he doesn’t already this upcoming season. And that’s fine. He’s one of the better young pieces the Niners have in place.
Expect San Francisco to use some of its large amount of cap space this offseason to sign a veteran cornerback — perhaps a shutdown guy like Los Angeles Rams corner Trumaine Johnson or Houston Texans CB A.J. Bouye.
This likely pushes veteran starting corner Tramaine Brock out of the picture, who will be an unrestricted free agent in 2018 anyway.
Let’s go out on a limb and name 2016 rookie Will Redmond the nickel corner for 2018. Redmond, of course, was the last of former general manager Trent Baalke’s “All-ACL” picks, and Redmond missed all of the 2016 season recovering from said injury.
One can only hope he turns the page and emerges as the only player to justify Baalke’s former NFL Draft gambles.