The 49ers’ secondary — specifically the cornerback position — was arguably their weakest group in 2021. If Richard Sherman’s latest prediction is correct, however, it’s about to get a whole lot stronger.
Sherman said on the latest episode of his podcast that Stephon Gilmore, a five-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Player of the Year, is likely to head to the West Coast this offseason, naming the 49ers and Seahawks specifically as favorites to land him.
“He’s been fantastic over his entire career. I look forward to seeing what market he ends up with. I expect him to go West Coast, either Seattle [Seahawks] or San Francisco [49ers] to scoop him up and him to thrive,” Sherman said on the latest episode of “The Richard Sherman Podcast.”
The 31-year-old is an unrestricted free agent, coming off another Pro Bowl season with the Carolina Panthers. Gilmore established himself as arguably the best cornerback in the league during his tenure in New England from 2017-2021. During that time, Gilmore made two All-Pro teams, three Pro Bowls, a DPOY (2019) and won a Super Bowl.
The 49ers enter 2022 with a number of question marks at corner. Emmanuel Moseley and Ambry Thomas finished the season as the starters, but San Francisco has a decision to make on Jason Verrett, K’Wuan Williams, Josh Norman and Dontae Johnson, all of whom are free agents.
Verrett entered 2021 as a starter, before sustaining a season-ending injury. No matter what happens, it’s hard to argue the 49ers couldn’t use more depth at the corner position.
Gilmore could be pricy, however. Spotrac projects he will command a deal that pays around $14.1 million per year. That would make Gilmore one of the highest paid corners in football.