49ers roster: 3 weakest positions following 2021 NFL Draft

No. 2: 49ers Cornerback

Days two and three of the NFL Draft saw the Niners reinforce their secondary quite a bit, namely by bringing aboard cornerback Ambry Thomas in Round 3, then defensive back Deommodore Lenoir and safety Talanoa Hufanga in Round 5.

While the safety depth behind Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt is no longer a major concern with Hufanga aboard, the additions of Thomas and Lenoir still create some questions with regards to how the cornerback crop shapes up this offseason.

Currently, one would figure San Francisco starts Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley as its boundary corners, while K’Waun Williams reassumes his starting nickel role. That’s all fine, provided everyone stays healthy, except Verrett has a lengthy injury history and only enjoyed 2020 as his first fully healthy season since 2015. Williams, too, missed eight games last year because of injuries, and Moseley has regularly bounced back and forth into the starting lineup.

Thomas is trending towards being a boundary cornerback, although both he and Lenoir figure to be no more than reserve options at this stage in their respective careers.

The 49ers missed out on top-ranked cornerbacks in the draft like Northwestern’s Greg Newsome II and Florida State’s Asante Samuel Jr., who could have easily been plug-and-play defensive backs. Granted, the NFL Draft board didn’t pan out in a way the Niners could have landed either player if they stayed put in Round 2.

But one can still fairly ask whether or not cornerback winds up being a positional liability for San Francisco this season.