Cornerbacks make strong cases with free agency on the horizon
Cornerbacks Jason Verrett, K’Waun Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon made for an astonishingly successful unit in the San Francisco 49ers’ win Saturday at Arizona.
How about in 2021?
All are under contract for just one more game — Sunday’s season finale against Seattle — before hitting unrestricted free agency in March, along with veteran leader Richard Sherman.
The 49ers (6-9) went into this season expecting big things from their cornerbacks. That proved to be especially daunting once pass rushers Nick Bosa and Dee Ford vanished less than two games in due to injuries.
Saturday, the cornerbacks — of the league’s fourth-ranked pass defense — raised their profile and market value from a 20-12 win over the host Cardinals.
Sherman, meanwhile, missed his 10th game this season because of a calf injury, and he watched from a State Farm Stadium suite alongside injured quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Verrett boosted his stock more than any 49ers cornerback this season, perhaps more so than any of the team’s 40 free agents, with plenty to be argued in favor of left tackle Trent Williams, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and defensive end Kerry Hyder.
“Guys really believe in this guy and they know how much it means to him,” coach Kyle Shanahan said of Verrett. “That’s why I wanted him back here so bad.”
Verrett, in pushing past his dubious history of leg issues, has started 12 games this season. He had suffocating coverage against DeAndre Hopkins on Saturday. Verrett broke up a potential touchdown catch before halftime, and he kept the All-Pro receiver from grabbing the game’s final pass.
• Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams, arguably the 49ers’ best offensive players this season, won’t play in Sunday’s season finale against Seattle because of injuries.
Aiyuk’s rookie year is over because of a high ankle sprain, the 49ers’ most common injury this season and one that Aiyuk played through in Saturday’s win over Arizona.
Williams sprained an elbow while blocking on the 49ers’ first touchdown drive. He won’t require surgery for it,