The San Francisco 49ers have been linked to several cornerbacks this offseason after losing Charvarius Ward to the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. While the team appears confident with Deommodore Lenoir and second-year corner Renardo Green as starters, it plans to let training camp competition determine the third cornerback. However, some believe the 49ers would benefit from adding outside help to solidify the position.
Athlon Sports' Nathan Karseno argues that, given the uncertainty at cornerback, the 49ers should consider three veteran options, especially with concerns that Green may not be ready for a full-season workload patrolling the perimeter of the defense.
Asante Samuel Jr.
Karseno acknowledges this option may not come cheap, but a recent injury could make Asante Samuel Jr. more affordable. The veteran cornerback, a former second-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers, has already been suggested as a 49ers target by NFL.com and ESPN.
"There is a lot of upside here given that the Los Angeles Chargers corner is just 25 years old," Karseno wrote, "but he is coming off shoulder and neck injuries that limited him to just four games played last year. He will be undergoing a medical re-check at the end of this month."
If Samuel receives a clean bill of health, interest from teams will likely increase.
In 50 career games (47 starts), Samuel has totaled 176 tackles (three for a loss), 37 passes defensed, and six interceptions, demonstrating a knack for making plays on the ball.
Rasul Douglas
While ESPN's Matt Bowen ranked Samuel as the third-best available free agent cornerback, Rasul Douglas claimed the No. 1 spot on the list.
"Douglas is a physical corner with the length to disrupt the ball and the willingness to set an edge against the run (five tackles for loss last season)," Bowen wrote. "He's an easy fit in a zone system that allows him to reroute underneath and attack the ball from the outside third of the field. Douglas returned one of his five interceptions for a touchdown in 2023, and he had five pass breakups last season."
Karseno believes Douglas would be a "perfect fit" within defensive coordinator Robert Saleh's system, which is expected to feature a significant amount of zone coverage in 2025.
"He will turn 30 next month, but with solid production as an every-game starter last season, it's safe to assume he's got a few more good years in him," Karseno concluded.
Mike Hilton
Mike Hilton offers an intriguing option because he contributes beyond pass defense.
"The 49ers desperately want to improve their 18th-ranked run defense from a season ago," Karseno noted. "The veteran Hilton is among the best downhill run-stoppers from the cornerback position."
At age 31, Hilton is the oldest of the three options, but he has earned a Pro Football Focus defensive grade of 75.9 or higher in each of the past two seasons. His 91.7 run-defense grade in 2024 was a career-best and led all NFL defensive backs.
With San Francisco seeking stability at the slot cornerback spot, Hilton could be an ideal fit, having spent most of his career there. In eight NFL seasons, Hilton has amassed 13 interceptions, 11.5 sacks, and 56 passes defensed.