The 49ers last season rode the NFL’s No. 1 pass defense to Super Bowl LIV. While the defensive line received a lion’s share of the credit for the team’s vastly-improved pass defense, they got equally stellar play in the secondary.
In 2018, San Francisco had one of the worst pass defenses in the league while setting a dubious NFL record with two interceptions – the fewest ever. Part of the issue was the lack of pass rush, but a healthy Richard Sherman, along with the consistently excellent play from nickel corner K’Waun Williams gave the 49ers the highest-graded cornerback duo in the NFL per Pro Football Focus.
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— PFF (@PFF) June 8, 2020
The 49ers’ pair edged out Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore and his teammate Jason McCourty of the Patriots.
Sherman was PFF’s highest-graded corner in coverage last year, finishing with a 90.1 grade. Williams was No. 13 at with a 75.7 grade in coverage. Between the regular season and playoffs, the 49ers’ cornerback duo combined for five interceptions while allowing just two touchdowns. Sherman’s passer rating when targeted was just 46.8. Williams surrendered a 77.8 rating when thrown at.
While this pair will be an essential part of the 49ers’ defense again in 2020, their performances in 2019 underscore a looming problem for the 49ers. Neither Sherman nor Williams are under contract beyond this season. Neither are Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Moseley for that matter.
San Francisco already has some tough financial choices to make in a year where the salary cap may either dip or stay stagnant due to the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the event that Sherman and Williams are among the best cornerback duos again this year, the 49ers could be in a spot where they’re priced out of both.
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