The 49ers continue to secure depth on defense. After losing cornerback Isaiah Oliver to the Jets and potentially watching linebacker Oren Burks depart via free agency, San Francisco has added former Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom and re-signed reserve linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler brings us the news of Yiadom. Yiadom played a similar role in the Saints’ defense as Oliver did in the 49ers’ last year but to different results. Both graded out extremely well in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), but Yiadom graded out much better in run defense. Yiadom was also tested more in coverage and delivered by tallying up an impressive 14 passes defensed.
After a season that saw Yiadom grade out as the 10th best cornerback in the league, according to PFF, the 49ers replace one talented corner with another. Fowler tells us that Yiadom explored other options, visiting the Commanders yesterday, but ultimately, the 27-year-old chose to join one of last year’s best defenses instead of helping to rebuild one of last year’s worst.
According to Josh Alper of NBC Sports, Flannigan-Fowles is set to return on a new one-year deal. Flannigan-Fowles has played much the same role in the last four years with the 49ers. Flannigan-Fowles plays mostly on special teams but tends to find his way onto the field around 13 percent of the time. With another season in San Francisco, though, the 27-year-old may be able to carve out a bit more playing time. As of right now, Burks is a free agent, not signed to return for 2024. If that holds true and the 49ers fail to make any other additions, Flannigan-Fowles could find his way into Burks’ role next season.
“the 49ers replace one talented corner with another.”
I know you aren’t talking about Oliver…
He was decent with Atlanta, and Wilks helped vouch for him, but he was just flat out TERRIBLE!
There were points in the season that it seemed like Oliver was allowing an all-time record high percentage of completions being made against him. It was significantly more rare that a QB didn’t complete a pass when Oliver was targeted. I wish him nothing but the best, but he was just historically awful and I will not miss cursing everytime he was in the line-up. Lol
Also, isn’t Yiadom more of an outside corner? Or am I completely wrong?
I know Oliver was used primarily as the 49ers slot guy, but then was benched when Lenoir took over the slot and they brought Ambry Thomas off the bench to handle the boundary corner duties.
I was pretty sure the 49ers brought Yiadom in to work as their boundary corner opposite Mooney Ward, so they could keep Lenoir in the slot. Well, as long as Yiadom is able to beat out Ambry Thomas for that starting role, but based off his performance last season, I wouldn’t imagine Yiadom would really have much trouble winning that battle.
Exactly right, Oliver was terrible! Yiadom is a huge upgrade and a really good find for the niners let’s go !! Getting better in a few places Armstead is overrated, Collins will prove to be a lot better especially in the run defense. Go NINERS!