San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 storylines to watch in 2021 training camp
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: How 49ers secondary takes shape
The 49ers defensive backfield remained mostly intact from last season, the one notable loss being veteran cornerback Richard Sherman, who remains unsigned as of this writing.
In his wake, free safety Jimmie Ward has assumed a bigger leadership role. Along with Jaquiski Tartt, the Niners’ starting safety duo is set. It’ll be the depth behind them in question with names like Talanoa Hufanga, Marcell Harris and Tony Jefferson, among others, competing for a roster spot.
Yet the bigger question and more interesting storyline will be at cornerback where San Francisco appears to have its starting trio in place of Jason Verrett, K’Waun Williams and Emmanuel Moseley.
Verrett and Williams have injury histories, though, and Moseley has yet to cement himself as a reliable starter, opening up the door for two of the 49ers’ recently drafted rookies, Ambry Thomas and Demmodore Lenoir, to establish themselves as quality backups.
Or, at the most optimistic, as starters.
For the most part, the Niners secondary looks to have its starters lined up. Yet depth concerns and injury precautions make the remaining contenders for a roster spot worth watching from late July into August.