SF 49ers: Ranking top 5 re-sign priorities in 2021 NFL free agency
By Peter Panacy
SF 49ers Re-Sign Priority No. 4: Cornerback K’Waun Williams
Only one of the Niners’ starting defensive backs from this season, safety Jimmie Ward, is under contract into 2021. The rest, as well as many reserves and backups, are awaiting free-agent decisions.
San Francisco’s secondary will look vastly different next season. And with the trend of rookie defensive backs taking some time to acclimate to the challenges the NFL offers, it would be more than wise for the SF 49ers to try retaining at least some of their veteran talent within the defensive backfield.
And that could start with nickel cornerback K’Waun Williams.
Williams dealt with plenty of injuries this season, which ultimately limited the 29 year old to just eight games over the course of 2020. That could keep Williams’ price relatively affordable, as could the reality nickel corners rarely make anything close to the amount boundary cornerbacks receive on the open market.
Still, Williams is one of the better nickel defensive backs in the league. And he’s a clear upgrade over anyone else the Niners have on their roster, pending free agents or otherwise.