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San Francisco 49ers: Who is cornerback Will Davis?

By Peter Panacy

Sep 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens strong safety Will Davis (39) warms up before the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens strong safety Will Davis (39) warms up before the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Niner Noise’s annual “Who Is?” series on San Francisco 49ers players in 2017 looks at cornerback Will Davis, whom the Niners grabbed earlier this week.

The San Francisco 49ers made a roster move earlier this week, picking up fifth-year veteran cornerback Will Davis in free agency.

San Francisco waived wide receiver Rashad Ross to make room.

Davis, 27 years old, broke into the league in 2013 as a third-round NFL Draft pick of the Miami Dolphins. He spent two years there before being traded to the Baltimore Ravens early in 2015.

The 5-foot-11, 186-pound defensive back saw the most amount of action in 2014. He played in 10 total games, recording 16 tackles and three passes defended in the process.

Last year, Davis saw 54 total snaps and posted a 70.4 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus.

San Francisco does have depth questions at both cornerback and safety, where Davis can also play. So his addition does make some sense as general manager John Lynch continues to revamp a still-developing unit this offseason.

How will Davis project into the team’s plans in 2017?

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Why He’ll Improve

Davis is the kind of cover corner a defensive coordinator, like Robert Saleh, would like in a Cover 3 defensive scheme.

One of Davis’ better attributes is his fluidity and ability to change direction with relative ease.

His 70.1 PFF pass-coverage grade suggests this is his best attribute too. And five career pass breakups — all the while in limited action — also points to the thought he can be a viable option as a depth corner.

The ability to double on special teams also improves his stock.

Why He’ll Regress

The lack of playing time, especially for a Round 3 pick, probably tells us more about Davis’ likely impact.

Two teams have already moved on from him. And while this could merely be the groundwork for Davis finding the right fit, it’s safe to say he’s not exactly on sure footing with the team this upcoming season.

His relatively smallish frame also could be problematic against some of the bigger-bodied receivers he’ll face. The Niners already have a crowded nickel corner position, so a move to safety might be the best bet.

Especially considering Davis isn’t entirely accustomed to more complex route-runners.

What to Expect in 2017

Davis may have a good chance to crack the 53-man roster this season. His special teams abilities are going to be what keep Davis in consideration, and he might be an upgrade over depth corners like Dontae Johnson and/or Prince Charles Iworah.

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If the Niners envision him as a safety, it might be best to put him down in the box where his coverage skills — or lack thereof — are covered up a bit.

At cornerback, Davis probably winds up being a No. 4 or No. 5 option.

This is an insurance-policy move for the 49ers, who still have plenty of questions with their defensive backfield this offseason.

Next: The top player to watch from each NFL team in 2017

Hopefully Davis makes this unit slightly better heading towards Week 1.