Niner Noise
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Predicting the 49ers’ biggest moves in NFL free agency

By Peter Panacy

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 14: Free safety Earl Thomas #29 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates a defensive stand in the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field on December 14, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 17-7. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 14: Free safety Earl Thomas #29 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates a defensive stand in the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field on December 14, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 17-7. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 06: Bryce Callahan #37 of the Chicago Bears looks toward the bench in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on December 6, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 06: Bryce Callahan #37 of the Chicago Bears looks toward the bench in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on December 6, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Cornerback Bryce Callahan

On the surface, this wouldn’t appear to solve much of a need for the 49ers. After all, they’re poised to have a nice little training camp battle at nickel cornerback between K’Waun Williams and D.J. Reed. And with the Niners picking up the 2019 option on Williams, adding another in free agency seems a bit redundant, right?

But Chicago Bears cornerback Bryce Callahan isn’t just a depth addition.

At 27 years old, the 5-foot-9 defensive back thrived in an opportunistic Bears defense last season, registering a career-high 45 tackles with two interceptions and six passes defended.

Related Story. 49ers should pursue cornerback Bryce Callahan in free agency. light

Plus, read this, from Pro Football Focus:

"Slot cornerbacks rarely get paid in free agency, but that doesn’t mean they’re not valuable. In fact, our data found that targeting the slot was actually more valuable than receivers split wide. Over the last two seasons, targeting Callahan in the slot has netted opposing quarterbacks a passer rating of 74.3 (2017) and 78.9 (2018) – both top-five figures each season."

Mind you, the 49ers signing a player during the offseason does not automatically mean they’re 100 percent committed to him. In 2017, the Niners re-signed wide receiver Jeremy Kerley to a three-year deal, only to let him go after picking up slot receiver Trent Taylor in the NFL Draft that year. In 2018, San Francisco committed to center Daniel Kilgore before landing Weston Richburg in free agency. Kilgore was then traded to the Miami Dolphins.

Callahan would be an upgrade over both options the Niners currently have at nickel.