The 49ers went from having no cornerbacks under contract to having their two presumptive starters locked up for the 2021 season.
Cornerback was atop the list of the 49ers’ biggest needs as free agency approached.
Now, the pressure is off — for a little while, at least.
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General manager John Lynch made the necessary move to bring back Jason Verrett on a one-year contract.
Last week, the signed cornerback Emmanuel Moseley to a two-year contract to prevent him from hitting the market as a restricted free agent.
Verrett and Moseley can be penciled in as the starters.
The 49ers would also like to re-sign nickel back K’Waun Williams.
San Francisco 49ers
They can continue to fill sports with low-cost options in free agency. Then, they will have the option of continuing to stock their cornerback position in the draft.
It is possible the best player on the 49ers’ draft board when it’s their turn to select at No. 12 overall will be one of two cornerbacks: Caleb Farley of Virginia Tech or Patrick Surtain II of Alabama.
Verrett is back on another prove-it contract, which will be the third consecutive one-year contract for Verrett with the 49ers.
On the first two contracts he signed with the 49ers, Verrett was considered a no-risk signing. Anything he gave them was considered a bonus.
Now, Verrett is being counted upon to stay healthy and productive. Another strong season will set him up for a nice contract a year from now — with the 49ers or some other team.
Verrett, 29, had a strong season while starting 13 games last year for the 49ers.
Other than his Pro Bowl season of 2015, Verrett had never appeared in more than six games in any one season. Verrett proved to be the 49ers’ best cover man. He intercepted two passes and made 60 tackles.
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Verrett, a first-round draft pick of the then-San Diego Chargers in 2014, had six injury plagued NFL seasons before making good on a second chance with the 49ers in 2020.
The 49ers made a commitment to Verrett after the 2019 season, when he appeared in just one game.
The 49ers decided they liked enough of what they saw from him behind the scenes to give him another chance after he spent virtually all of that season rehabbing a balky knee.
The club signed him to a one-year contract in 2020. He rewarded their loyalty to him with a strong season.
The 49ers are counting on him to do it again.