When Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch took control over the organization, they made no secret about their philosophy to build and stockpile a dominant defensive line. The strategy has bared the fruits of a Super Bowl appearance and a loss in the NFC champions in two of the last three seasons. With all the hoopla surrounding the apparent change under center, it is likely going to be the changes made to the defensive backfield that will play a vital role in the team getting over the hump.
Signing a top-tier cornerback this off-season needs to be amongst the team's highest priorities. Hopefully, this time around they will have better luck in the free agency market. Either due to injury or taking a gamble on veterans on the back end of their careers, the 49ers have struck out when they've tried to bring in FA cornerbacks. Jason Verrett was poised to have a bounce-back season, prior to suffering an ACL injury in Week 1 versus the Lions. This injury flushed veteran defensive back Josh Norman, who signed after training camp, into a much larger role than the anticipated veteran voice in the locker room he was brought in to be. Norman's lack of productivity and penalties led to rookie Ambry Thomas seeing significant time as the season went on.
Although CB Thomas began to emerge over the last month of the season and into the playoffs, the 49ers have serious depth concerns outside of the sturdy play of CB Emmanuel Moseley. It is unclear if long time slot corner K'waun Williams will return next season and the aforementioned Varrett is set for free agency as well. Adding a lockdown corner this offseason would serve as the missing piece to a defense that has arguably the most dominant front seven in all of the NFL.
The easiest route to the playoffs is winning the division and with WRs DeAndre Hopkins, DK Metcalf, Odell Beckham Jr., and Cooper Kupp headlining the 49ers divisional opponents, the team's brass will likely have to pay top dollar to secure a shutdown defensive back. This year's free agency class is set to include, Stephon Gilmore, JC Jackson, Carlton Davis, and former 49er DJ Reed. All of which, barring Reed, is likely going to cost top dollar for the team who eventually signs them during this offseason.
With players who are clearly amongst the very best on each of the first two levels of their defense, in Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, not bringing in a top-level corner to sure up the back end of the defense could cost the 49ers a chance at bringing home the franchises 6th Lombardi Trophy.
