Cornerback is likely to be a priority for the San Francisco 49ers in the offseason, and one of their recent coaching hires could allow them to address it by adding one of the top free agents at the position who is poised to hit the open market.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, are planning to release corner Darious Williams on Tuesday in a move to clear cap space.
Williams' exit from Jacksonville gives teams the chance to land a player who had a strong season fly under the radar in 2023. In his second season with the Jaguars, Williams allowed a passer rating of just 69.6, 11th among cornerbacks with at least 200 coverage snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
Additionally, Williams racked up a career-high 19 pass breakups to go with four interceptions, the latter tally matching a zenith he achieved back in 2020, when his defensive coordinator was the man the Niners hired last week to be their assistant head coach, Brandon Staley.
Staley's hiring was reported at the same time as Nick Sorensen's promotion to defensive coordinator, indicating he will have an active role in assisting first-time play-caller Sorensen.
The former Los Angeles Chargers head coach, fired after a 5-9 start last season, gained a reputation as an outstanding defensive mind during his sole season as the coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams' defense, which ranked first in yards and points in 2020, with Williams as one of its key players.
Williams' success playing for Staley and his impact for Jacksonville could lead the 49ers to pursue a short-term deal for the 30-year-old as they continue to exist in the world of 'Super Bowl or bust'.
Almost exclusively an outside corner, signing Williams would allow the 49ers to kick Deommodore Lenoir inside full time. Last season, Lenoir spent much of the year starting on the outside on base downs but moving to the slot on nickel downs.
In Staley, the Niners have somebody in the building who can vouch for Williams having seen him enjoy success playing in a defense deploying coverage schemes similar to what San Francisco will likely employ in 2024.
The 49ers will hoping there are plenty of benefits of having Staley in the building still to come, but his connection with a free agent who could be the final piece of the puzzle in their secondary may be the first.
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