Predicting 49ers 53-man roster just before final roster cuts

Cornerbacks (6): Richard Sherman*, Ahkello Witherspoon*, Jason Verrett*, K’Waun Williams*, D.J. Reed*, Emmanuel Moseley*

This turns out to be quite a bit of an easier group to try to predict that it might have seemed when the preseason began. The locks remain the same — Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon, Jason Verrett (assuming health), and K’Waun Williams — leaving those final two spots.

Second-year defensive back D.J. Reed has played well spelling the currently injured Williams in the slot, and Saleh mentioned Reed as an option to start in Williams’ place if the latter can’t go in Week 1.

He’s also proved himself a solid option as a kick returner if others like wide receiver James and Mostert aren’t available to do so.

The other name Saleh noted there was Emmanuel Mosely, a second-year pro out of Tennessee, who actually spent much of his preseason playing well not in the slot, but as an outside cornerback.

He’s been by far the best of the bunch in the second unit, and showed himself capable of serving as cover for Sherman, Witherspoon and/or Verrett, or Williams as needed.

Given a large chunk of the first wave of cuts on Friday featured defensive backs (four of the nine), Moseley seems to have locked himself into a role on this team.