Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus ranked the top 25 cornerbacks in the NFL, and two San Francisco 49ers — Richard Sherman and K'Waun Williams — made the list. Sherman came in at No. 2, with only Stephon Gilmore of the New England Patriots ranked above him.
"A torn Achilles threatened to torpedo Richard Sherman's career, but last season he showed how good he could be when he is at his best and 100% healthy," wrote Monson. "Though he had a rough Super Bowl, Sherman allowed just 373 yards and one touchdown all season long, including the playoffs. Passes thrown his way resulted in a passer rating of only 45.3, or barely better than if the quarterback had just thrown the ball away every play instead."
Sherman is entering his 10th NFL season, and the final year of the three-year deal he signed with the 49ers in 2018. The veteran spent seven seasons with the division-rival Seattle Seahawks before joining San Francisco, and his path is on a collision course with Canton.
"Sherman's physical tools may be on the wane as he gets older, but he may be the smartest cornerback in the game and has a freakish understanding of how an offense tries to attack him," added Monson.
Williams, the 49ers slot corner who is among the best in the game at that spot, came in at No. 21.
"Another slot specialist, K'Waun Williams was part of the reason the San Francisco 49ers were so much better defensively in 2019 than the year before," wrote Monson. "Williams had the highest PFF grade (80.3) since his rookie season in Cleveland and played more snaps than he ever has before as the team went all the way to the Super Bowl."
A Grade 1 calf strain forced Williams to miss much of training camp, but the cornerback returned to the practice field on Monday.
"Williams has the kind of speed and quickness underneath to thrive in the slot, where two-way go routes are a major threat to corners," added Monson. "And he is another player who thrives at keeping things in front of him, giving up an average of just 7.7 yards per catch in 2019."