49ers named as best free agency fit for All-Pro who would turn longtime weakness into huge strength
The San Francisco 49ers' situation at the cornerback position is much better than in years gone by, but outside nerves about the secondary would still be understandable as they put together their roster for the 2024 season. San Francisco has an impressive starting duo in the form of second-team All-Pro Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, […]
The San Francisco 49ers' situation at the cornerback position is much better than in years gone by, but outside nerves about the secondary would still be understandable as they put together their roster for the 2024 season.
San Francisco has an impressive starting duo in the form of second-team All-Pro Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, who demonstrated great versatility last season in alternating between outside corner and the slot during the Niners' run to the Super Bowl.
But depth has long since been an issue for the 49ers at corner, one that reared its head at the heartbreaking culmination of a tremendous season as veteran Logan Ryan started in the slot in the overtime loss to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Ambry Thomas, who had filled the outside role on nickel downs when Lenoir bumped inside, was benched after struggling in their prior two playoff games.
The 49ers have already addressed that depth in free agency, signing Isaac Yiadom to a one-year deal. Yiadom is coming off a hugely impressive season with the New Orleans Saints, one that saw him record 14 pass breakups and, per Sports Info Solutions, allow a completion percentage of just 38.5%, tied for the fourth-best among cornerbacks with at least 25 targets. He was ninth by yards per attempt allowed (5.1) and finished 13th by positive play rate allowed (35.9%).
But, with a host of big-name stars still available after a frenzied first week on the open market, the 49ers have been identified by ESPN's Bill Barnwell as the best fit for a former All-Pro corner in Tre'Davious White, who would eradicate any thought of cornerback depth being a weakness. White was released by the Buffalo Bills before free agency in a cap-saving move after several seasons hindered by injury.
Barnwell wrote:
San Francisco is set with its top two corners Deommodore Lenoir and Charvarius Ward, but the third spot is a bit of a question mark. We saw teams pick on Ambry Thomas throughout the 2023 season, leading the Niners to bench him in the Super Bowl and play Logan Ryan in the slot. A miscommunication between Ryan and Ward helped free up Mecole Hardman on the touchdown that won the Super Bowl.
With Lenoir moving into the slot in San Francisco's sub-packages, White could step in as the outside corner while building up his legs after the Achilles injury.
The case can be made that the arrival of Yiadom has already given the 49ers the flexibility to move Lenoir inside without having to rely on Thomas, though the counter would be that San Francisco is still just one cornerback injury away from having to lean on their inconsistent third-round picking.
Adding White, an All-Pro in 2019, would give the 49ers four cornerbacks with a recent history of producing top-level play, Lenoir having allowed a passer rating of 56.4 that was the ninth best among corners with at least 50 targets last year.
Few teams can claim to have such a luxury, though the 49ers would only benefit from singing White if he was able to stay healthy and rediscover the kind of form that saw him record a league-leading six interceptions in 2019 after suffering a torn ACL in 2021 and a torn Achilles in Week 4 last season.
The 49ers have focused on added durable players this offseason and have not been reported as having a visit scheduled with White. Signing him, however, would be a gamble with the potential to pay massive dividends and would fortify a critical position that has too often been a question-mark. If they haven't already, the Niners would be wise to give White a call.
