49ers stock watch on 2022 NFL Draft rookies after 4 games
By Peter Panacy
49ers cornerback Samuel Womack (Round 5)
Like Danny Gray, nickel cornerback Samuel Womack saw his own stock value shoot up like crazy during the preseason, including one exhibition bout where he recorded two interceptions and convinced the Niners it was OK to part ways with the veteran defensive back, Darqueze Dennard, who was serving as Womack’s primary competition at the position.
Womack is certainly promising, and he’s likely ending up as yet another example of San Francisco finding gems in the later rounds of the NFL Draft.
The rookie has appeared in all four games for the 49ers, yes, but he since lost his starting nickel gig to second-year cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, a decision head coach Kyle Shanahan described after Week 3, via Niners Wire:
"We’re always going to try to put the best people out there that we think gives us the best chance to win. And just from the last few weeks and watching him in practice and everything, we felt that was D-Mo and I was real happy with how he played too. I thought he was one of the better guys out there last night."
It’s not necessarily a blast against Womack, who has allowed four completions on five targets for 35 yards this season.
Instead, it’s more of an indicator that Lenoir’s maturation after being selected in Round 5 a year ago is further along.