49ers roster: 5 new faces who make biggest impact in 2022
By Peter Panacy
New 49ers player No. 2: Cornerback Samuel Womack
Drake Jackson might not start for the Niners his rookie year. Tyrion Davis-Price could start but isn’t likely to be the team’s featured tailback.
Fifth-round rookie cornerback Samuel Womack, however, could have a sizable impact as a nickel starter.
Granted, nickel backs aren’t technically starters when evaluating base-down formations. But they’re nevertheless important, and San Francisco lost one of its best defenders to NFL free agency this offseason in K’Waun Williams.
The 49ers are now hoping the 5-foot-10, 187-pound Womack out of Toledo can seamlessly fill the void, picking up where Williams left off and using a similar play style to make this transition from a veteran to an NFL Draft rookie as seamless as possible.
Read More: 4 players from Niners’ 2022 draft class who become starters
Sure, the Niners do have other options to plug in over the slot if Womack either flames out or needs more development before assuming a larger role.
Yet Womack managed to impress enough during offseason workouts thus far, and the door is wide open for him to assume the No. 1 spot here on the depth chart, suggesting he’ll have a sizable impact right away.