The San Francisco 49ers are expected to address their secondary this offseason through free agency or the NFL Draft. With several of their cornerbacks set to hit free agency—including starter Charvarius Ward—the team could be left with veteran Deommodore Lenoir and second-year player Renardo Green as their top options.
While Green showed promise as a rookie, the 49ers may not be ready to rely on him as a full-time starter. That's why ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz identified Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. as a "perfect free agent fit" for San Francisco.
"Veteran cornerback Charvarius Ward is likely leaving, along with depth cornerbacks Isaac Yiadom and Rock Ya-Sin," Schatz explained. "The 49ers need to get younger at an important position, and Samuel would help them do that. He will be just 26 next season and is coming off a season where he played only four games due to a shoulder injury."
Despite his limited playing time in 2024, Samuel still posted above-average coverage DVOA. He's just a year removed from an impressive 2023 campaign, where he recorded a career-high 63 tackles (one for a loss), two interceptions, and 13 passes defensed—earning a career-best 75.6 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus.
Would Samuel be a good fit for returning defensive coordinator Robert Saleh?
"Samuel excels in zone coverage and has strong ball skills, which fits what the 49ers' defense wants to do on the back end," Schatz concluded.
Meanwhile, Schatz projects Ward to land with the Minnesota Vikings and linebacker Dre Greenlaw to join the Arizona Cardinals.