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San Francisco 49ers: Predicting the future at cornerback in 2018

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after defending a pass against the New York Giants during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after defending a pass against the New York Giants during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 7: Denzel Ward #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes hits Taivon Jacobs #12 of the Maryland Terrapins after a reception in the first quarter at Ohio Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. Ward was ejected from the game after being assessed a targeting penalty for the hit. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 7: Denzel Ward #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes hits Taivon Jacobs #12 of the Maryland Terrapins after a reception in the first quarter at Ohio Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. Ward was ejected from the game after being assessed a targeting penalty for the hit. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

49ers’ 2018 Cornerback Predictions

It’s a safe bet the Niners will make at least a couple of moves to bring in cornerbacks this offseason.

Cover guys will be at the premium. Considering defensive coordinator Robert Saleh operates a single-high Cover 3 scheme, San Francisco’s corners need to be good at one-on-one coverage with little, if any, help over the top.

Ahkello Witherspoon figures to be a part of the solution. While his run-stopping abilities were suspect in college, he was always solid in man-to-man coverage. That was rarely an issue.

Free agency is a route general manager John Lynch might take. He didn’t shy away from doing so last year, and it isn’t as if the Niners are hurting for cap space. Current New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler and Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson, playing on the franchise tag, may be two names to watch here if Lynch wants to get aggressive on the market.

Or, perhaps, the 49ers look for a retread, of sorts, and try to pull in someone like Chicago Bears corner Kyle Fuller.

It’s also possible Lynch uses the NFL Draft as another means. Ohio State’s Denzel Ward may not be the next Marshon Lattimore. But Ward is pretty good in his own right.

Another player to watch is Auburn’s Carlton Davis.

Cornerback Predictions

Going with a nickel formation on defense, it’s a safe bet Witherspoon occupies one of the two starting spots in 2018. And unless something changes drastically, K’Waun Williams will be back at his nickel spot next year too.

The only remaining question is who starts opposite Witherspoon and what the depth-chart order will be.

More from Niner Noise

It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Niners add a better-than-average corner via the free-agent market. Players like Malcolm Butler or Trumaine Johnson may be nice, although we’ve certainly seen big deals issued to corners not exactly pan out.

A guess would be a lesser-known corner — someone, perhaps, familiar with Saleh’s Cover 3 defense. And it wouldn’t be a shock to see the 49ers round out this position with a mid-round cornerback, much like they did with Witherspoon earlier this year.

Still, cornerback remains a pressing need for San Francisco.

Next: Predicting the 49ers' future at safety in 2018

One could argue at least two corners are needed this offseason. Three would be OK too, especially considering the depth woes the team has encountered.