Following cornerback Jason Verrett‘s season-ending injury, the 49ers have brought in some reinforcement at the position. The 49ers are finalizing a deal with free agent cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
[RELATED: 49ers Fear Torn ACL For Jason Verrett]
Kirkpatrick has flirted with teams throughout the offseason, previously auditioning for the Saints, Patriots, and Texans. He also worked out for the 49ers recently, and that ended up turning into a contract. The 31-year-old saw time in 14 games (11 starts) for the Cardinals in 2020, finishing with 56 tackles, seven passes defended, and three interceptions. The longtime Bengals starter has totaled 358 tackles, three sacks, 72 passes defensed, and 13 interceptions across nine NFL seasons.
Verrett had a standout season for the 49ers in 2020, and the team brought him back on a one-year deal. Unfortunately, the veteran suffered an ACL tear during yesterday’s victory, ending his season after only one game. The team has already had to shuffle around their cornerbacks corps; the team needed rookie Deommodore Lenoir to fill in for Emmanuel Moseley, and they previously added Josh Norman. Before signing Kirkpatrick, head coach Kyle Shanahan seemed to imply that the team could look for some extra depth at the position.
“With that being the case, I feel we got enough guys in our building,” Shanahan said (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area). “But that’s something you always got to look to see if there’s anyway you can improve. You always do that.”
I like the sign now if Norman can step up
With the Rookies we have a good secondary
it’s a great sign, but niners secondary is so thin that it’s still far from “good”. especially at the CB position. norman doesn’t change that at all
It definitely does. They don’t need to be good to look good. A quality pass rush can turn below average DB’s into solid ones.
The same reason Sherman went from an 89 PFF grade to a 67.7 after we lost Bosa+Ford. Same reason Mosley went from 70 to a 55. Even Verrett, who showed talent despite lack of QB pressure, didn’t have to be a pro bowler to look like one. That’s why a Norman/Kirkpatrick can help just by knowing where to be. This front office seemed to forget that they had two 6’3 CB’s since they arrived in SF. That helped stuff WR’s at the LOS, which is the first 1-2 seconds of coverage. Now if you’re only allowing 3 seconds or so of pocket time, you don’t need lightning fast CB’s, just guys that know where to be. That’s why Norman AND Kirkpatrick can be effective.
IF they brought back Sherman, I’d want them to go sign Gareon Conley. He seems like a guy who could use some veteran leadership/insight from a guy like Sherman, and worst case scenario we’re at where we started and wasted $950k-$1.2m. #NotMyMoney Best case scenario they revive the career of another solid corner taken off the field due to injury(ex; Sherman/Verrett).
Now I’d prefer to trade Kinlaw for CJ Henderson, though it’s doubtful it happens. It would allow SF to not have to spend their highest pixk(2nd rounder) on a CB, and get an every down/do-it-all DE that can push Armstead back to DT, where he belongs and where he would thrive. He’s only playing DE bc none of the others can defend the run, yet we have the best DT depth in the NFL w/Jones/Givens/Hurst/Kerr/Street(and Kinlaw). Sure we’d be starting some variation of Jones+Kerr, however I doubt that’d be any worse than Kinlaw tbh. They’re all around 6’1-6’2/310-330 and don’t have the same issues the the 6’5 330 Kinlaw has regarding keeping a low center of gravity. And then next year, nab a 6’4/6’5-270+lb guy that can rush the passer AND play the run, negating the need to rotate in Dee Ford/Jordan Willis/Arden Key/Samson Ebukam. Ofc there usually aren’t Bosa-level talents in the 2nd round, but there are still quality players to be had in the top 55. I think getting a guy like CJ Henderson would allow them to have a quality 6’1 CB for the next 6-10 years, and developLenoir/Thomas, but still spend something like a 3rd/4th on another CB, but hopefully one that’s taller than 5’10, for the same reason above. Those first few yards of engaging the WR at the line of scrimmage buys your pass rushers that extra second to get to the QB, where smaller CB’s have to rely more on their coverage skills. There’s a reason Sherman was a lockdown guy without ever being a track star, and that legal physicality combined with the IQ of knowing where to be and a solid pass rush, made him elite years after folks said he was washed up.
It’s the same reason Carlos Rogers went from nobody to Pro Bowl. Aldon+Justin Smith cut their coverage time in half. The longer a CB has to cover, the more likely the WR breaks that coverage. In a division with Metcalf/AJ Green/DeAndre Hopkins/etc, having some size can’t hurt.
Idk why they didn’t go for a guy like Israel Mukuamu or tried harder to get Ifeatu Melifonwu/Paulson Adebo in the 2nd/early 3rd.
Or the Aaron Banks>G/C Creed Humphrey, but that’s a discussion for another day. Alex Mack is immortal. If it’s bc he’s left handed, that reminds me more of the GM that picked Solly Thomas 3 and said that he would’ve picked Rueben Foster 3rd if Solly Thomas was off the board, when guys like Jamal Adams/Christian McCafferey/Marlon Humphrey/Marshon Lattimore/TJ Watt/Hassan Reddick/Carl Lawson/Derek Barnett/Tre’Davious White/etc etc etc were on the board, as opposed to the Front Office that landed the likes of Fred Warner and George Kittle in the 3rd and 4th rounds, along with other contributors like Ahkello Witherspoon, Emmanuel Mosley, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Nick Bosa, DJ Jones, Kevin Givens, Ronald Blair, Dre Greenlaw, Azeez Al-Shaiir, and several solid safeties(Marcelo Harris, Tarvarius Moore, Adrian Colbert, etc).
It almost seems like unless there’s a sure fire top guy(Bosa/Lance) they struggle with high picks, and should almost have a better shot NOT picking in the 1st round these next two years smfh
I mostly agree with you Andy, especially regarding how Norman could help with a decent rush, but I would never trade Kinlaw for Henderson. I won’t get into too many reasons, but basically it is suspected that Henderson is not as valued by the current regime in Jacksonville as the prior one. If you wanted him, I suspect you could get him for much less than a promising second year first round pick.
The Shaquill Griffin signing showed that the Jags felt that they needed starting corner help, which in another factor that says that they do not value Henderson as a first round worthy player at the moment-even if they may try to convince a potential trade partner otherwise.
That GM that you’re referring to, by the way, is the guy you’d currently be trading with in Jacksonville (unfortunately for the Jaguars).
While Norman and this guy aren’t going to make this a shut down secondary they are still great signings and much needed. Now it Mosley can get healthy they’ll be solid. Just need to stop that run and Kyle needs to point out all this holding against Bosa every game so the refs start to call it, maybe teams will stop doing it then.
Absolutely. They don’t need to be good to look good. Sherman showed that with a great pass rush, you can take a smart CB and make him look elite. Sherm was a 89 PFF in 2019, and a 67.7 last year. The difference was the absence of an above average pass rush.
If Norman and Kirkpatrick-both 6ft+, can bump guys at the LOS, that’s already 1-2 seconds of pocket time burned, they only need to spend an additional 1-2 seconds covering before our DL is there. That’s why I’m surprised the front office went for a 6ft nickel in Ambry Thomas and a 5’10 outside guy in Demo Lenoir. Mosley was proof last year (67-70 in 2019, 55 in 2020) that those extra seconds of coverage can make a below average-average corner look like one the belongs as a starter.
Kirkpatrick had a low 49-55 PFF grade last year, and AZ had a nice pass rush, but I believe the niners can scheme him into being an upgrade over Dontae Johnson. Norman has played in schemes like this his entire life, there shouldn’t be any learning curve at all. He played his best years behind Kuechly, and Warner is arguably at or above Kuechly’s level. Let’s just hope Bosa/Armstead/Warner/AlShaiir/Greenlaw/Jones/Kerr/Givens/Kinlaw/Ebukam/Ford can stay healthy, as that will decide the fate of our CB group.
If we get Sherman though, I’d think between Kirkpatrick/Norman/Sherman/KWaun/Ward/Wilson, we’d have a DB group that can help Gareon Conley prove he’s as good as he looked in flashes with Oakland and Houston before his injuries(2nd surgery-10months ago..)
As long as Kirkpatrick is not used in man or one on one coverage without help, he should be fine. He looked like he lost a step in Arizona, but then again, a lot of corners have looked bad there recently and their defense is not what Kirkpatrick is best at running. Still, I think that the 9ers should keep in mind his limitations at this point in his career. Verrett is probably irreplaceable at this point in the season, but Kirkpatrick should be able to come in and run basic to moderate zone coverages immediately, which will be good for San Fran.
Of course, there’s no substituting an offseason learning plays and communication for a secondary with a lot of new contributors in a year, but having a veteran can help speed that up. You do have to wonder if Sherman was reconsidered, and if not, the reason why.
I can’t wait till my Seahawks play these fools. Wilson gonna be throwing to lock and Metcalf all day