5 questions SF 49ers must answer before 2021 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Which cornerbacks do the SF 49ers keep?
San Francisco is poised to lose the following cornerbacks to free agency this offseason:
- Richard Sherman
- Jason Verrett
- K’Waun Williams
- Ahkello Witherspoon
- Jamar Taylor
- Dontae Johnson
Additionally, reserve corner Emmanuel Moseley is a restricted free agent. While he lost his starting job last season, he’s still a valuable and versatile depth piece. He likely returns.
Yet the other names draw up all kinds of uncertainty.
Witherspoon played well down the stretch. But after an up-and-down four-year career with the SF 49ers, he might be inclined to search for new surroundings. Sherman has already expressed the likelihood he’s not back, and it could be tough for the Niners to retain Williams, who is one of the league’s top nickel backs.
Verrett, meanwhile, seems like a high re-sign priority after enjoying a Pro Bowl-like campaign in 2020. But with an extensive injury history, it might be too risky for San Francisco to ink him to a top-dollar contract even if it could afford it in the first place.
Depending on which corners stay and go this offseason, the SF 49ers’ top choices in the NFL Draft could go one of many different directions with cornerback being a top commodity selected.