49ers player stock watch after first weekend of 2019 training camp

Stock Up: 49ers’ Cornerbacks

Entering training camp, one of the 49ers’ biggest question marks was the cornerback position, but over the past two days, San Francisco’s corners have been more of an exclamation point. After slipping on Matthews’ long reception the previous day, third-year cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon came to play on Sunday. The former third-round draft pick was solid in coverage, and made the defensive play of the day when he intercepted a pass from Garoppolo intended for Pettis:

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Fellow cornerback Jason Verrett — Witherspoon’s primary competition for a starting role on the outside —  saw the field for the first time on Sunday. Verrett lined up with the second team but didn’t see much action.

Unlike his time on the field during the 2018 season, Sherman had a fair share of passes thrown his way over the weekend. The Niners’ top cornerback looks quicker than he did at this point in training camp last season, as evidenced in this pass breakup intended for Matthews:

Sherman wasn’t unable to dominate the 49ers’ smaller and quicker receivers, like Pettis and track-star Marquise Goodwin, compared to the team’s larger wideouts, such as Matthews. Still, when asked whether he could still beat Sherman in a one-on-one situation, Goodwin gave the veteran some deserved respect by responding, “I plead the Fifth.”