Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 3 players facing do-or-die seasons in 2020

By Peter Panacy

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers is seen during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers is seen during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Brandin Cooks, Ahkello Witherspoon, Rams, 49ers
Wide receiver Brandin Cooks #12 of the Los Angeles Rams over cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon

Unlike Richie James, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon wasn’t underutilized by the 49ers in 2019.

Instead, Witherspoon started off hot early in the year, suffered a foot sprain which resulted in an elongated absence, returned to the starting lineup, lost his starting job to fellow corner Emmanuel Moseley, regained it again in time for the postseason, only to lose it again after giving up an ugly touchdown to Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs in the divisional round.

After all was said and done, Pro Football Focus ranked Witherspoon the No. 86 overall cornerback during the regular season out of 113 qualifiers.

The Niners’ third-round pick of the 2017 NFL Draft needs a bounce-back season in a major way. Entering a contract year, and with San Francisco likely looking for a long-term replacement for the veteran, Richard Sherman, determining whether or not Witherspoon can be a permanent fixture on the defense is going to be paramount.

Especially if the 49ers add yet another cornerback via the draft or free agency this offseason.

The good news is Witherspoon possessed some great playmaking efforts early in 2019, suggesting some more development this offseason could do him some good.

Yet the odds are seemingly stacked against him, and the inconsistency over his pro career probably means San Francisco won’t exercise much more patience with their one-time boundary starter.