For a while now, the stock has been rising on San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver. He is scheduled to become a free agent on March 10. That doesn't look to change as free agency quickly approaches.
Earlier today, NBC sports anchor Dianna Marie Russini confirmed that Culliver would be one of the most sought after free agents should he hit March 10 without a new contract. Russini was the one that reported the team's possible cap saving release of wide receiver Stevie Johnson yesterday.
She expects Culliver to get a "big time deal" and is graded high by many NFL teams.
While Culliver missed all of the 2013 season with a torn ACL, he started 14 games in 2014. He had four interceptions and 14 passes defensed in those games. He had a cap hit of $1.581 million in 2014 and looks to make a lot more in 2015.
Culliver has had his share of off-the-field issues, including offensive comments prior to Super Bowl XLVII and being charged with a hit-and-run with a bicycle in 2014.
There are other more high profile corners entering free agency, but it is expected that some of them will return to their teams via new contracts. That would certainly make Culliver's stock jump.
Culliver was selected by the 49ers out of South Carolina in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
The 49ers' other starting cornerback in 2014, Perrish Cox, is also scheduled to become a free agent. If no new contract is offered and accepted, the 49ers could lose both of their starting corners to free agency.
49ers Chris Culliver is one of the most sought after corners. Expect a big time deal. Graded high on many teams, per multiple team sources
— Dianna Marie Russini (@NBCdianna) March 1, 2015