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NFL free agency: Why the 49ers shouldn’t sign Trumaine Johnson

By Jeremy Wohlfart

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Trumaine Johnson #22 of the Los Angeles Rams attempts to tackle Jeremy Kerley #17 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of their game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Trumaine Johnson #22 of the Los Angeles Rams attempts to tackle Jeremy Kerley #17 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of their game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers made their first acquisition in a quick and decisive manner, picking up former Seattle Seahawk Richard Sherman less than 24 hours after being released, but what about the other cornerbacks linked to the 49ers?

Well, that went by so quickly that if you blinked you missed it.

Yes folks, former Seattle Seahawks cornerback, and eternal nemesis of the San Francisco 49ers, Richard Sherman took less than 24 hours to call the 49ers home. Free agency hasn’t officially started yet and general manager John Lynch has already thrown a curveball.

A quick word for everyone hating this move because of Sherman and his conflict with the 49ers. Yes, he might be a cocky player with a big mouth everyone hates, but now he’s our cocky player with a big mouth that everyone hates.

Anyway, back to the article.

Sherman fills a huge role, and will be a definite upgrade over Dontae Johnson as long as his Achilles injury doesn’t flare up.

Some might think this means cornerback is now officially off the board as far as big signings might go, but you can never be sure looking at how the Los Angeles Rams have aggressively stocked up.

So for this reason, despite the heavy links, I really believe this eliminates the need for Trumaine Johnson for two reasons:

Money and need.

A lot has been said about the 49ers salary cap, and according to Over The Cap, they do have over $70 million to enjoy in cap space (pre-Sherman contract).

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That’s a lot of money to play with, but that doesn’t mean it needs to all be squandered right away. Johnson would likely want a contract equal to or more than the near $17 million he received last season with the Rams, and it’s money that can be better spent elsewhere.

For starters, standout DeForest Buckner will surely earn himself a lengthy and expensive contract extension soon, and not a single fan will disagree that he’s earned every penny. Money will certainly be kept in reserve for that.

But the other and more immediate truth is, there are now bigger holes in the roster to target.

For example, despite the well earned extension of Marquise Goodwin, this doesn’t to me mean the 49ers won’t look at a receiver. Allen Robinson fits the mold perfectly as a tall receiver who can score, and will surely be of interest still.

Next: 49ers sign cornerback Richard Sherman to three-year contract

Whether it be receiver, the offensive line, linebacker or an EDGE, the 49ers simply have bigger areas of need to attend to. If they need a couple extra million to make sure they get their guy, that’s fine. But the sizable cap room the Niners enjoy still needs to be doled out carefully, and signing another corner makes no sense from a financial standpoint.

Johnson is a good player, and it’s certain he will get a big contract from whichever team signs him.

That team should not be San Francisco.