© Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
The 49ers are continuing efforts to revamp their secondary after signing All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman last week.
49ers general manager John Lynch said he met with former Green Bay Packer LaDarius Gunter earlier this week, according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. Lynch also reportedly met with former Philadelphia Eagle Jaylen Watkins, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
The 49ers are intent on finding big, physical cornerbacks to deploy in defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s scheme. Sherman and Ahkello Witherspoon— both of whom stand at 6-foot-3— are the indisputable starters at cornerback, with K’Waun Williams in the nickel slot.
Gunter is 6-foot-2, 201 pounds, and Watkins is 5-foot-11, 194 pounds. Both free agents are cornerback-safety hybrids with experience at special teams.
Gunter joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2015. In 2016, he earned a starting cornerback role, producing 54 tackles and 12 passes defended.
Watkins, the half-brother of Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins, was a rotational piece in the Super Bowl Champion Eagles defensive backfield. He produced five starts in four career seasons, with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams. In Super Bowl LII, he played 17 plays as a special-teamer, as opposed to three plays on defense.
Lynch has remained open to any and all possibilities in free agency. But it seems he has filled the necessary voids for the time being.
“We’re really pleased with what we’ve done,” Lynch told Maiocco. “I’ll never say never. We’ve had a couple of guys visit in the last couple of days. Perhaps we’ll do something there. But for the most part, we’re wrapped up and pleased with what we’ve been able to do.”