Ranking 49ers 5 biggest roster needs ahead of NFL free agency
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Cornerback
Wide receiver and cornerback are very similar, in terms of situational needs for San Francisco. There’s a clear-cut starter for 2020, Richard Sherman, although the options behind him aren’t quite as reassuring.
Younger corners Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Moseley both have promise, yes. But neither has truly solidified himself as a bona fide option to replace Sherman, who enters a contract year this season, or to fully serve as the defense’s right cornerback on the opposite side.
While not quite as deep or talented as the wide receiver class, the cornerback crop in the NFL Draft is solid enough to at least provide John Lynch with some likable options.
Again, however, there are some caveats to look at here. Should the 49ers want to pursue more low-cost choices, a fringe starter like the New York Giants Antonio Hamilton could be in the mix. The veteran, Morris Claiborne, has likely seen his last days in a one-and-done year with the Kansas City Chiefs, while Cincinnati Bengals corner Darqueze Dennard is a possibility.
Yet if San Francisco wants to look at 2020 as another realistic run towards the Super Bowl — it should — perhaps targeting another solid veteran would be worthwhile.
The Denver Broncos recently agreed to a trade for Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback A.J. Bouye, which puts veteran corner Chris Harris Jr. into an unknown situation moving forward in Denver. Harris, 30 years old, is a pending free agent. And while he’d likely cost a good chunk more than the previously mentioned low-budget options, the Niners may consider luring the veteran in with the idea of competing for a championship right away.
Regardless, this position is one needing to be addressed this offseason.