San Francisco 49ers: 5 biggest holes on the team’s roster
2. Outside Cornerback
Starter: Richard Sherman
Competition: Jason Verrett, Ahkello Witherspoon
Richard Sherman remains penciled in as the team’s number one corner. But, just as it’s remained since he arrived, the opposite side of the field is uncertain.
Jason Verrett is just a few seasons removed from being one of the best cornerbacks in all of football. He also remains one of the most injury-prone.
Verrett has shown flashes of his All-Pro caliber play in training camp, but is already missing time with an injury. If he is not healthy, the 49ers basically have the same unit that they had last year.
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Ahkello Witherspoon remains the next man up. The 2017 third-round pick, much like Adrian Colbert, had a strong rookie showing, but a massive sophomore drop-off last season.
After Witherspoon, the team’s best options are veteran Dontae Johnson, Greg Mabin, and sixth-round pick Tim Harris. It’s easy to see how this unit has depth questions.
I know Saleh has made a point that he wants to avoid shuffling players around the secondary again, but a part of me wonders if he hopes Moore can assert himself as the best option at free safety, which would allow him to shift Ward into the cornerback rotation.