Corners could get a pay boost
49ers’ cover men are stating strong cases ahead of 2021 free agency
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. Be
fore Saturday, his comeback was highlighted with an end zone interception in an Oct. 18 home win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Verrett topped that Saturday with suffocating coverage against DeAndre Hopkins. Verrett broke up a potential touchdown catch before halftime, and he kept the All-Pro receiver from grabbing the game’s final pass.
Verrett turns 30 in June, and with his injury history, he won’t command a huge contract. He obviously merits much more, however, than the one-year deals he got from the 49ers in 2019 ($3 million) and this year ($1.1 million).
“I’ve got a ton of respect for this organization, for allowing me to come back, show what I can do and believing in me,” Verrett said earlier this month. “It’s definitely a place I want to be but we’ve got to see where things go when the season is over.”
Conventional wisdom says the 49ers will have to keep either Verrett or Sherman. Sherman, who represents himself, spoke like an agent when he said this month it would take a miracle for the capstrapped 49ers to have enough money for him and other teammates, such as Trent Williams, their highest-priced free agent.
Sherman, 32, missed nine games after the season opener with a calf injury that he’s said is not a chronic issue. But after a four-game return, he was inactive Saturday, and it’s unknown if he’ll return Sunday to face his former team, the Seahawks.
Sherman made a cameo at safety for select plays this month, and while that may be his final position before heading to Canton, the 49ers may pass and go forth with a safety tandem of Jimmie Ward and Tarvarius Moore.
Williams has been a coach favorite, and the entire defense raves about his on- field persona, meriting the nickname “Shark.” He has more career sacks (five) than interceptions (three).
Williams is finishing strong, and he bounced back Saturday from a leg contusion to make a sudden sack early in the second half. His tackling and coverage ability are required facets for a slot cornerback. “It would have been tough to win without him,” Shanahan said Saturday.
Injuries since training camp — calf, knee, hip, ankle — have limited Williams to about half this season’s games. That could keep his price down, although if defensive coordinator Robert Saleh lands a head coaching job, Williams will draw competitive offers. His backup, Jamar Taylor, excelled before tearing an ACL a month ago, spoiling his free agency stakes.