The 49ers invested third-round draft picks the past two years to strengthen the team’s cornerback situation.
As the 49ers enter the offseason, cornerback could again be one of the team’s biggest needs.
“We're in a league right now that throws the ball a whole lot, so you can't be strong enough at that position,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said this week.
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Veteran Richard Sherman proved to be a solid acquisition after the signed with the 49ers the day after the Seattle Seahawks released him last March.
Coming off an encouraging rookie season, Ahkello Witherspoon entered 2018 as the undisputed starter on the other side.
But Witherspoon struggled with an ankle injury and inconsistent play early in the season. After regaining his starting job, Witherspoon’s production became more steady up to the point he sustained a knee injury that sidelined him for the final two games.
Witherspoon was a third-round draft pick (No. 66 overall) in 2017 from Colorado. In 2018, the 49ers selected cornerback Tarvarius Moore of Southern Mississippi in the third round with the No. 95 overall pick.
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Moore saw significant playing time in the final three weeks of the season after Witherspoon went down with an injury. After converting from safety in college, Moore proved to the 49ers he has a future as an NFL cornerback.
Moore had his ups and downs in coverage in the final three games, surrendering 15 catches on 23 targets for 160 yards and three touchdowns, according to Pro Football Focus. After giving up what appeared to be a game-clinching reception to Chicago’s Allen Robinson in Week 16, Moore punched the ball loose to generate a takeaway to give the 49ers one last chance.
“We’re extremely excited about Tarvarius,” Lynch said. “He got an opportunity to go play, and I think he showed some really good things. But I think that's going to be great competition between he and Ahkello. We’ll see.”
Lynch also kept the door open for the 49ers to add a starting-caliber cornerback in free agency and/or the draft to go along with Moore and Witherspoon.
“We’ve been studying the free agents available,” Lynch said. “We've obviously been studying the draft and that's a spot I think you just keep adding that. You have to be strong there.”