Going into this year’s free agency period it was well known that the 49ers were looking for a veteran cornerback to help bring along their young secondary. Right now their cornerbacks are Chris Culliver, Tramaine Brock, Eric Wright, Perrish Cox, and Chris Cook. You could easily argue that not a single one of them has reached their full potential. A veteran at the cornerback position showing them the ropes could move that along. The 49ers aren’t looking for just any vet to bring in though, they want the prototypical Harbaugh “football player,” someone who spends as much time training his mind as he does training his body.
However, being this far into free agency, there isn’t exactly a ton of options left for that though. One of the more well known names still out there is Asante Samuel. He obviously isn’t what he used to be, he turned 33 in January, and last season he was slowed down by a lingering thigh injury. But there might be some gas left in the tank still. More importantly, he’s been on successful teams and knows what it takes for the team to reach their ultimate goal, winning the Super Bowl.
Terrell Thomas is an option but has some major injury concerns. He missed all 2011 and 2012 with knee injuries but was healthy all of 2013. Being as young as he is and already missing so much time with knee problems is a huge red flag. Thomas isn’t the kind of player the 49ers would look to bring in at this position, so I don’t see him being a likely fit.
Drayton Florence is 33 years old and his play is pretty up and down at times. He’s been around the league a decent amount and can probably teach the young 49ers cornerbacks a little something about the position. Florence stepped in late last season for the Carolina Panthers and played fairly well. If he has any time left in the league, it sure isn’t much. If the 49ers were to land any of the remaining free agent cornerbacks, I think Florence would be the best fit out of all of them.
Rashean Mathis is 34 and fits the same mold as Florence but if money were the same, I think Florence being a year younger could make a big difference. Once players get to be in their 30s, one year becomes more and more significant. However, if they can get Mathis much cheaper on a one-year deal he would be a good fit for what the 49ers need.
A major need for the 49ers is definitely at cornerback, but with six of the first 100 picks in this year’s draft they most certainly intend to stay with young guys at the position. If they were to make any more free agency moves, it would be for a vet and all about value. The key would be to make sure the deal was almost zero risk for the team. The four players I mentioned are the best fits of the remaining available cornerback free agents, but when all is said and done I don’t see the 49ers actually bringing any of these guys on board for the 2014 season.