5 players the 49ers were right to move on from in 2022

No. 1: 49ers were right to move on from cornerback Josh Norman

Ah, yes. Every Niners fan’s favorite from 2021: cornerback Josh Norman.

Alright, just like Tom Compton, let’s not knock the 34-year-old Norman too hard here, rather let’s just acknowledge the fact he committed far too many defensive pass-interference penalties that couldn’t be overcome by his team-best seven forced fumbles on the year.

Norman’s struggles on the field, which eventually led to him being designated for reserve duties late in the season, highlighted the bigger problem.

San Francisco needed cornerback help in a big way entering 2022.

Want your voice heard? Join the Niner Noise team!

Write for us!

This was one of the priorities John Lynch had entering the offseason, alleviated to a great extent by spending big money on former Kansas City Chiefs starting cornerback Charvarius Ward, then doubling down in the NFL Draft by grabbing nickel corner Samuel Womack.

On top of that, the 49ers’ low-risk re-addition of veteran corner Jason Verrett, provided he can stay healthy, helps make up for whatever they lost by saying goodbye to Norman.

The Niners largely neglected this position’s needs in the years leading up to this offseason, and Norman pointed that out in a big way for much of last season.

San Francisco was wise to not let that repeat entering 2022.