5 San Francisco 49ers players who may follow Steve Wilks out the door
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Cornerback Ambry Thomas
Steve Wilks' specialty on defense was within the secondary. And while he can receive some credit for helping develop players like Ji'Ayir Brown and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir into quality starters, Wilks' presence did little in the maturation process for fellow corner Ambry Thomas.
Thomas, who was moderately promising late in his rookie year in 2021 and then showed some signs of development early in 2023, was nevertheless credited with allowing more than a 70-percent completion mark against with three touchdowns allowed in coverage, and he was widely viewed as the weakest link within San Francisco's secondary.
Lenoir and No. 1 cornerback Charvarius Ward are the shoo-in starters heading into 2024, but it's painfully clear the 49ers need another starting-caliber body to beef up this unit.
Entering year four, it doesn't appear as if Thomas will be a plausible fit.