49ers free agency: 5 bargain cornerbacks Niners can still target

49ers Cornerback Target No. 1: A.J. Bouye

There haven’t been any reports of links between San Francisco and veteran cornerback A.J. Bouye, who has reportedly met with the Las Vegas Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals already in NFL free agency but hasn’t yet come away with a deal.

The longer Bouye stays on the market, the 2017 Pro Bowler’s asking price should drop. And not unlike what happened with Jason Verrett and what could happen with other corners still remaining on the market, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see the 29-year-old Bouye take a one-year prove-it deal after things didn’t work out with him and the Denver Broncos last season.

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Hopefully to cash in on what likely could be his last massive deal in 2022.

As far as scheme fit, Bouye did play in a similar Cover 3 system with the Jacksonville Jaguars between 2017 and 2019. That should make his fit a little better than the one he went through with Broncos head coach Vic Fangio last season.

And while Bouye might be well beyond the six-interception campaign he had back in 2017 with the Jags, at least it’s indicative he can have that kind of success in a system where he’s predominantly playing in zone out on the boundary.

Unlike some of the other outside corners on this list, Bouye would be tabbed as a starter if signed by San Francisco. This would likely push a player like Emmanuel Moseley into a starting-nickel role or as a primary reserve in case of injury, assuming Bouye and Verrett would be starting.

Either way, depending on Bouye’s market, it’s a situation the 49ers shouldn’t be afraid to monitor.