49ers have intriguing options at nickel cornerback in 2022

49ers option No. 5: Emmanuel Moseley becomes full-time nickel

Samuel Womack could be the long-term solution at nickel cornerback, yet he could easily require at least a full year to make that transition.

However, San Francisco’s additions of Charvarius Ward and Jason Verrett push defensive back Emmanuel Moseley further down the cornerback depth chart, assuming the prior two both stay healthy, yet Moseley is still quality enough a player whom the 49ers would preferably like to have on the field more than not.

Especially considering Moseley is far less a liability than the rookie, Womack, and other options like Ambry Thomas, Deommodore Lenoir and Dontae Johnson.

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It’s not without precedent either.

A year ago, Moseley saw only five coverage snaps over the slot, per Pro Football Focus. He had 36 in 2020, though, and 38 in 2019. While those aren’t a lot, the concept of him moving inside isn’t entirely foreign, and one could make the argument moving Moseley inside on nickel packages would have been the immediate plan after the Ward signing, Thomas coming in on the boundary in these sub packages.

With Verrett in place, Moseley would see his snap count diminish a bit but would still have a pretty clear-cut role.