Niner Noise
FanSided

49ers’ player stock watch after Week 1 of 2019 OTAs

By Peter Panacy

ENGLEWOOD, CO - AUGUST 27: Dylan Thompson #13 and Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers talk during a joint training session with the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos at the Denver Broncos Training Facility on August 27, 2015 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
ENGLEWOOD, CO - AUGUST 27: Dylan Thompson #13 and Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers talk during a joint training session with the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos at the Denver Broncos Training Facility on August 27, 2015 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 24: Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after breaking up a pass to Dede Westbrook #12 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 24: Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after breaking up a pass to Dede Westbrook #12 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Stock Up: Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon

It seemed as if cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was destined to have a rough 2018 campaign after securing the starting job his rookie season. After all, Witherspoon was routinely beat during last year’s training camp, and that carried over into the regular season.

Pro Football Focus even ranked Witherspoon the worst-graded qualifying cornerback last year — a mark not helped by the fact he led the 49ers in penalties in 2018.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise the Niners added some competition at the position during the offseason, namely oft-injured veteran Jason Verrett.

According to that same Matt Barrows report, Witherspoon was “the man to beat” at the position during practices, which is a great sign for the third-year player.

Witherspoon will still have a tough competition with Verrett, whose injury history will remain a concern for the entire season. Yet it’s a great sign to see the 49ers’ former third-round investment turning a corner on what was mostly a forgettable 2018 campaign.