49ers roster predictions: 4 bold changes for 2021 lineup

Bold Prediction No. 3: Dontae Johnson starts for 49ers at cornerback

An initial assessment of the Niners roster suggests Jason Verrett, K’Waun Williams and Emmanuel Moseley emerge as the team’s starting trio of cornerbacks, supported by the two rookies, Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir.

This would leave the journeyman veteran, Dontae Johnson, as the No. 6 option on the depth chart and only an emergency fill-in piece, which was essentially his role last season before being re-signed on a one-year deal.

While fans may not appreciate Johnson that much, San Francisco appears to appreciate him. Particularly his ability to double as both a boundary option and over the slot, and his 67.7 Pro Football Focus grade from last year suggests he wasn’t as horrible as some made him out to be.

OK, so where would Johnson start?

Assuming both Thomas and Lenoir aren’t quite ready for full-time duties just yet, the logical assumption would be over Moseley, who has bounced back and forth from the starting lineup over his career and managed only a 58.3 PFF grade last season.

Johnson is by no means elite, and Moseley is much younger. But considering some of the question marks the 49ers have within their secondary, this could easily be the case where they elect to go with experience over relative inconsistency.