5 burning questions facing DeMeco Ryans, 49ers defense in 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Which young 49ers cornerbacks separate from the pack?
This is a pressing question for DeMeco Ryans, not just in 2021, but also for the next coming years.
Veteran starting cornerbacks Jason Verrett and K’Waun Williams have a few things in common. First, they’re both on the wrong side of 30 years old. Second, they also have pretty extensive injury histories, although Verrett enjoyed a relatively clean slate of health last year.
Third, and perhaps most importantly, both will be free agents in 2022. The 49ers have to start thinking about how their secondary will look next season and beyond, and the time to begin those evaluations is right now.
Ryans will be looking at the Niners’ two rookies, Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir, as possible long-term solutions, although both may need to develop a while first before assuming larger roles. Thomas, a Round 3 selection during the NFL Draft, opted out of his final season at Michigan because of the pandemic, while Lenoir, a fifth-round pick, might be more of a developmental defensive back.
Perhaps another depth corner begins to ascend, however. Third-year pro Tim Harris Jr., who was redshirted in 2019 after being selected by San Francisco in Round 6 of that year’s draft, saw some modest action on special teams last year. Maybe it’ll be Mark Fields II on the rise.
If no one, well, looks like the 49ers will again be pushing cornerback to the top of the 2022 needs list.