49ers’ 2019 ‘Who Is?’ series: Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley hasn’t exactly seen a lot of time at the pro level, and his chances to make the 53-man roster are slim at best.

It’s anyone’s guess whether or not cornerback Emmanuel Moseley would have made a difference for the San Francisco 49ers secondary in 2018, his rookie season.

Moselely, who joined the Niners as an undrafted free agent that year, made some headway during training camp and could have easily been considered one of the dark-horse candidates to make the 53-man roster.

But Moseley ended up on the practice squad to start the year, eventually being promoted in 2018 and appearing in one game against the Oakland Raiders, suffering a shoulder injury in the process and landing on injured reserve.

Moseley made his presence known in college at Tennessee, though, and those traits are what San Francisco will look for between now and the start of the 2019 season.

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That said, there’s quite the crowd at cornerback and within the secondary heading into training camp, meaning Moseley faces an uphill climb to stick around in 2019.

Why Emmanuel Moseley Improves in 2019

At 5-foot-11 and 184 pounds, Moseley’s collegiate production didn’t exactly generate ballhawk numbers. But he was regularly around the ball, and he never hesitated to take the physical approach.

This hard-hitting ability, combined with his 4.42 40-yard dash time at his pro day, suggest his raw traits are worth some serious development.

Sure, the interception numbers weren’t there. But with 29 pass breakups over his collegiate career, he was clearly capable of getting in the way of receivers catching the ball.

Why Emmanuel Moseley Regresses

The shoulder injury is telling, as Moseley’s smallish frame lends itself to the possibility his aggressiveness winds up leading to more injuries over his pro career.

Moseley might not be able to hold up to the rigors of regular play, and he’s already going to be hard pressed to make the team as a backup. Plus, while the physical nature is often a bonus, it also led him to more than one occasion where he overpursued a ball carrier and missed some tackles.

Fundamentals come first, and Moseley has yet to master these.

Chances of Making the 49ers’ 53-Man Roster in 2019

Moseley primarily played boundary duties at Tennessee, but his size could relegate him to nickel duties only.

That’s a matter of preference for San Francisco, but the versatility does work in the second-year cornerback’s favor. The Niners already have two starting-caliber nickel backs on the roster, K’Waun Williams and D.J. Reed, so Moseley will also have to make his mark on special teams, too.

The fact the 49ers let him reach this role a bit last season is a good sign, yet special teams abilities alone won’t be enough to ensure a roster spot.

One might guess Moseley is on the back end of the roster bubble right now. A strong training camp would go a long way in ensuring he carves out a niche, but it seems he’s probably a better candidate for a return to the practice squad in 2019.