How 49ers prioritize George Kittle, other contract extensions

Priority No. 2: 49ers Cornerback K’Waun Williams

Yes, another cornerback. Notice the beginning of a trend here?

Nickel backs rarely receive the attention they deserve, and the same could be said of K’Waun Williams, who was one of San Francisco’s biggest unsung heroes from last season. If you were wondering, his 77.2 Pro Football Focus grade from 2019 — the highest given to a slot corner last year — is a testament to just how effective he was over the course of 15 regular-season games played.

At 29 years old, Williams still has more than a few years left capable of playing at a high level. It’s also fortunate for the 49ers slot corners rarely receive the kind of big money boundary corners get.

So that makes him a prime re-sign/extension candidate, as Niner Noise’s Robert Morrison pointed out.

As noted earlier, San Francisco has more than a few questions at cornerback entering 2021. Ensuring at least two of the starting trio remains in town next season would be a vital move by John Lynch, as he’d maintain a lot of continuity for a defense that ranked No. 1 against the pass a year ago.