Niner Noise
FanSided

3 mistakes 49ers can’t afford to make during 2022 offseason

By Nick Di Marco

Jan 9, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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K'Waun Williams, Emmanuel Moseley, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers defensive back K’Waun Williams (24) celebrates with cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (4) Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

49ers can’t avoid fixing the secondary

Let’s be the first to admit, as the Niners season progressed, their secondary went from awful to semi-impressive. This is not to say that this is an elite group, but the comeback of cornerback Emmanuel Moseley and the rise of rookie Ambry Thomas has proven to be a more than respectable pass-defense tandem.

Saying this, San Francisco isn’t in any position to ignore adding players through free agency or the 2022 NFL Draft to help boast the secondary this year. It was one of the biggest offseason stories when the 49ers essentially ignored adding to their cornerback room, other than adding Thomas and fellow rookie Deommodore Lenoir, and then refused to sign any notable free agents, so it would be a big mistake if they were to do so again.

Now, Moseley and Thomas make sense to keep as perimeter corners, but with veteran nickel corner K’Waun Williams set to potentially leave in free agency, the Niners need to target a nickel corner to assure they don’t get burned by opposing slot wide receivers like the Los Angeles Rams’ Cooper Kupp or the Seattle Seahawks’ Tyler Lockett. Once No. 1 cornerback Jason Verrett went down in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions with an ACL tear, it seemed like a grim season was about to unfold, as the team had to trust Josh Norman to be its alpha cornerback.

Even if Thomas has seemed like the real deal for a handful of games, it doesn’t mean San Francisco should anoint him as the answer to the secondary’s issues. All the NFL’s best teams have a strong, deep cornerback group.

Hopefully, the 49ers learn their lesson and strengthen their soon-to-be thin cornerback group this year.