4 backups SF 49ers should start over final 3 games of 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 1: SF 49ers Cornerback Tim Harris
It’s abundantly clear cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon and Dontae Johnson aren’t in San Francisco’s long-term plans beyond this season. With fellow corners Richard Sherman and Jason Verrett also pending undrafted free agents, the SF 49ers could see a massive makeover within their defensive backfield in 2021.
Because of this, it’s time to see what former Virginia cornerback Tim Harris can do.
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Harris, the Niners’ sixth-round selection of the 2019 NFL Draft, redshirted his rookie year before landing on the practice squad this season behind a deep cornerbacking depth chart. He’s been active in just one game this season, promoted in Week 13 against Buffalo where he saw just eight special teams snaps and none on defense.
But the oft-injured Harris does have a lot of the traits coordinator Robert Saleh prefers for his boundary corners on defense. Harris’ 6-foot-2, 197-pound frame is long and lanky. And when healthy, Harris was a notable contributor back in college to suggest his on-field talents are worth a longer look.
If anything, starting Harris down the stretch would at least provide San Francisco with some much-needed evidence whether or not its sixth-round investment from 2019 will ever pay off.
Next. 5 day-three quarterbacks 49ers should look at in 2021 NFL Draft. dark
It’s not like there’s anything left for the SF 49ers to lose here anyway.