49ers roster bubble watch with 2023 NFL Draft in the books
By Peter Panacy
49ers roster bubble watch: Secondary
Lock: Isaiah Oliver, Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Ji'Ayir Brown*, Tashaun Gipson Sr., Talanoa Hufanga, George Odum
Strong bubble: Darrell Luter Jr.*, Samuel Womack III, Myles Hartsfield
Weak bubble: Qwuantrezz Knight, Ambry Thomas, A.J. Parker, Tayler Hawkins, Avery Young
Long shot: D'Shawn Jamison*
Not too many question marks at safety. A decent deal of them at cornerback.
Tashaun Gipson and Talanoa Hufanga both impressed aplenty last season. And while San Francisco's top pick from the 2023 NFL Draft, Penn State's Ji'Ayir Brown, might not push out someone like Gipson right away, the 49ers will likely use the rookie in a variety of ways in year one.
George Odum is a top backup at safety, too, rounding out the group at four even if defensive coordinator Steve Wilks hand-picked former Panthers defensive back Myles Hartsfield via NFL free agency. In the wake of Wilks' comments about the secondary, it appears as if another free-agent pickup in Isaiah Oliver will occupy the starting nickel role.
That said, the No. 2 boundary cornerback role appears to be up for grabs.
Deommodore Lenoir played here for the latter two-thirds of 2022 after now-Detroit Lions corner Emmanuel Moseley suffered a torn ACL, and the former seems to be the favorite.
Could another rookie, Darrell Luter Jr., push him though?
If Luter ascends, it's not good news for fringe players like Ambry Thomas or Qwuantrezz Knight.