NFL free agency: 3 players who should be on 49ers radar in 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Cornerback Daryl Worley
The 49ers have some notable concerns at cornerback, which include finding a long-term replacement for the veteran, Richard Sherman, who’ll enter a contract year in 2020. In an ideal world, the Niners would be comfortable with inserting either Ahkello Witherspoon or Emmanuel Moseley into Sherman’s stead in 2021.
But neither Witherspoon nor Moseley has exactly cemented himself a bona fide starter just yet, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see San Francisco pursue another option this season.
If free agency is the route to be taken, and grabbing a younger player winds up being the primary means, the 49ers could do worse than keeping a tab on Oakland Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Daryl Worley.
Worley, who’ll turn 25 years old later in February, is in line for his first substantial free-agent contract this offseason after joining the Carolina Panthers in Round 3 of the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
There’s a good chance the Raiders want to bring Worley back, as he enjoyed a productive 58-tackle 2019 campaign with eight pass breakups and an interception. And while it’s hard to determine if there will be a hefty bidding war on the 6-foot-1, 215 pounder, Over the Cap’s contractual valuation of Worley’s 2019 efforts being at $5.033 million suggests he could fall within San Francisco’s price range.
The body type fits, and Worley is still just hitting the prime of his career. Adding him could help lock down an immediate need, while also setting up a long-term fit when Sherman eventually departs.
As long as the price tag doesn’t get too high.