San Francisco 49ers: Predicting 53-man roster after 2020 NFL Draft

Cornerbacks (6)

Richard Sherman

Emmanuel Moseley

K’Waun Williams

Ahkello Witherspoon

Tim Harris

DJ Reed

Practice Squad: DeMarkus Acy*

At least for 2020, the four major players at the cornerback position seem pretty locked in as well.

Richard Sherman is set to return for his third season as a 49er, with either former UDFA Emmanuel Moseley or former third-round pick Ahkello Witherspoon starting opposite him.

K’Waun Williams looks to continue his role as one of the NFL’s better slot corners after finishing 2019 as Pro Football Focus‘ seventh highest-graded cornerback in the league. Williams, like the rest of the first four, will be playing for a new contract after this upcoming season.

The three non-starters on the list will have two main functions: depth at either corner position and special teams contributions.

Witherspoon already showed himself willing to step up and do what was asked of him, offering to join the special teams units after getting benched early in the NFC divisional matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

D.J. Reed has been a solid special teams contributor during his two seasons as a 49er so far, along with being a kick-return option if someone like Richie James doesn’t make the team. He could also be a long-term plan for the slot cornerback position if Williams is not re-signed.

The interesting names here at former Virginia corner and last year’s sixth-round draft pick, Tim Harris, who spent all of 2019 on IR, and rookie UDFA DeMarkus Acy out of Missouri.

Both players fit the 49ers profile for cornerbacks, with Harris measuring at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, and Acy coming in at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, but there’s a good chance they’ll be fighting for the same roster spot unless the team decides to carry seven corners.

The youth of the unit is nice to see with so much unknown about the group past next season, but it looks to be a solid room heading into next season.