49ers strong position No. 3: Cornerback
Key additions in 2022: Charvarius Ward, Samuel Womack*, Tariq Castro-Fields*
* denotes rookie
Imagine this, San Francisco’s biggest defensive weakness last season has now turned into a bona fide strength.
Granted, this group still has question marks. But many of those were alleviated by the lucrative free-agent pickup of former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward. And while the 49ers should still worry about whether or not oft-injured and re-signed corner Jason Verrett can stay healthy and play a full season, the good news is the Niners still have starting-caliber options to support him.
Namely in Emmanuel Moseley and, to a lesser extent, last year’s late-season riser in Ambry Thomas.
San Francisco did have to account for the free-agent loss of nickel cornerback K’Waun Williams, though, and the hope is its fifth-round NFL Draft selection, Samuel Womack, winds up being a tailor-made replacement in more ways than one.
Moseley might start in relief of Williams for now, but Womack looks to be the long-term replacement, while depth options such as Thomas, Dontae Johnson, Deommodore Lenoir, Darqueze Dennard and the sixth-round rookie, Tariq Castro-Fields, will battle it out in training camp for one of arguably two remaining spots on the depth chart.