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What’s the 49ers’ plan at nickel? John Lynch weighs in
Mar 28, 2022 at 12:59 PM
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K'Waun Williams, the San Francisco 49ers' nickel cornerback since 2017, is now a member of the Denver Broncos. The departure has left many wondering about the team's plan at nickel. Is there a plan?
Matt Barrows of The Athletic speculated that the 49ers could utilize its new trio of cornerbacks—
Charvarius Ward, Emmanuel Moseley, and
Ambry Thomas—to fill the gap. The former two would line up outside on base downs. Moseley could slide inside on nickel downs, and Thomas could enter on the outside in Moseley's place.
It's not a bad plan. Maybe not as ideal as having a dedicated nickel cornerback as the 49ers had with Williams.
On Monday, Lynch spoke with reporters at the NFL owners meetings. Barrows asked Lynch who would line up at nickel cornerback in 2022.
"Lynch said the 49ers drafted
Deommodore Lenoir last year with the thought he had the
right traits for the nickel role," wrote Barrows. "He also noted that recent free-agent signee Darqueze Dennard showed an aptitude for the position when he joined the 49ers late last season."
Dennard signed a one-year deal on March 25 after a brief stint with the 49ers this past season. Dennard played 21 defensive snaps and 10 special teams snaps during the thrilling playoff-clinching Week 18 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. He was active for the 49ers' final two playoff games but did not take a defensive snap.
"He really took to that nickel position and picked it up like that (snaps fingers)," Lynch said of Dennard, per Barrows. "So that's an interesting position because it's really a starter. We play 70-75 percent of our snaps in the nickel."
Lynch didn't mention it, but the draft remains a possibility. San Francisco could fill the role with a rookie, or at the very least, find someone who could grow into that role down the road.
For now, the 49ers' plan at nickel cornerback remains unclear. Unfortunately, we may not learn more about the team's plan at the position until training camp.
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