Could secondary help be on the way for the 49ers?
After using all eleven draft picks to retool and rebuild the San Francisco 49ers roster and future, the organization may target a free agent addition before training camp. In a previous article, I highlighted Za’Darius Smith as an addition to the defensive line as a situational pass rusher. However, the 49ers will likely opt to develop their young defensive lineman. It’s a strategy highlighted by new Jacksonville Jaguars GM James Gladstone, who spoke freely about the Rams developing their draft picks in 2024 without veterans who may stand in the way of their development.
NFL.com analyst Jeffri Chadiha believes there is a perfect fit for the 49ers defense, but it’s not on the defensive line. Chadiha suggests ten players for ten franchises and sees CB Asante Samuel Jr as the best fit for the 49ers’ secondary.
San Francisco makes sense for Samuel for two reasons. One is that he’s likely to be available at a very affordable price now that the draft has passed. The other is that the 49ers are thin at cornerback — they lost Charvarius Ward, Rock Ya-Sin, and Isaac Yiadom from last year’s team — and play a zone-heavy system that could allow Samuel to flourish. The big knocks on Samuel after his four seasons with the Chargers were his tackling and lack of consistency in press coverage. He also dealt with a lingering neck/shoulder injury that limited him to four games last season (and continued to dog him earlier this offseason). If the 49ers could land Samuel on a one-year, prove-it deal, he might flourish under defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and create a chance for a massive long-term deal. Samuel is only 25 and one of the best remaining free agents on the market. This could be a win-win for both sides.
Typically, if a free agent is around after the draft, it is due to either contract demands or a checkered injury history that teams are hesitant to invest money into. Samuel is still 25 years old, but if the price is right, the 49ers could strike gold with the son of former NFL player Asante Samuel.
Do the 49ers feel comfortable with their current secondary group? That remains to be seen, but Renardo Green, Deommodore Lenoir, Upton Stout, and even possibly Darrell Luter, Jr, will be enough in the 49ers’ eyes.