There's a training camp battle brewing between San Francisco 49ers cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley and Ahkello Witherspoon. One will earn the right to start opposite veteran Richard Sherman, who believes Moseley has the upper hand after a strong 2019 campaign.
Moseley, an undrafted player out of Tennessee, is entering his third NFL season. He started nine games last season after taking over for Witherspoon, who was sidelined with a foot injury. Moseley also started the 49ers' final two playoff games, including Super Bowl LIV.
Sherman envisions Moseley getting the early snaps with the first-team defense when the 49ers finally get onto the practice field in August.
"I think he'll have a whole training camp of starting," Sherman told Matt Barrows of The Athletic. "It's a different preparation and a different mindset when you come into the year knowing where you stand and being able to prepare in that way. And I think that will be good for him."
Other tidbits from Barrows' feature include Sherman reiterating how slot corner K'Waun Williams may be the most underrated player on the roster. Williams doesn't just contribute to the pass defense. He has proven to be valuable when called upon against the run, too.
"There are tons of nickels who are great in pass coverage," said Sherman. "But there are very few who impact the run game in the way he does. That's what makes him the best nickel in football, and that's the part of his game that's so underrated that nobody ever even gives him credit for."
Sherman also drew attention to two other corners who missed time last season.
A groin injury sidelined rookie Tim Harris for the year. The 49ers are excited to see how much he can contribute this season.
"You've got a guy like Tim Harris, who we drafted and was having a really good camp and then had to go to injured reserve," general manager John Lynch said in April, "but a guy that we're excited about working with moving forward."
Jason Verrett resigned with the #49ers this offseason and is looking to contribute in 2020.
A former Pro-Bowler in 2015, Verrett is looking healthy and ready to compete. @Jfeeva_2 // #49wz pic.twitter.com/0oiweIcKwm
— TheSFNiners (@TheSFNiners) July 18, 2020
The second player is Jason Verrett, who attempted to get onto the football field last season after recovering from a knee injury but eventually landed on injured reserve due to a setback. The veteran cornerback has landed on injured reserve in all but one of his six NFL seasons. That one in 2015, however, earned him a Pro Bowl selection.
Sherman notes that GPS monitors in Verrett's shoulder pads tracked him reaching speeds in the 21-mph range during his rehab late last season.
Click here to read Barrows' entire feature over at The Athletic.