Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley is entering his fifth NFL season. That's the same experience—as far as years—as his new teammate, Charvarius Ward. In March, the San Francisco 49ers signed the 26-year-old Ward to a three-year, $40.5 million contract, bolstering the defensive back room.
While the two cornerbacks entered the league at the same time, Ward has over 1,000 more career snaps on defense (2,719 to 1,676). So Moseley knows there is a lot he can learn from Ward.
"He's a great press corner, so I'm learning from him," Moseley told reporters on Wednesday. "Just the attitude that he brings every day to the meetings, talking to the younger guys, and even coaching me up. I like Charvarius, and I'm ready to work with him."
Moseley has been focusing on becoming a better press cornerback, an area where he believes Ward has thrived.
"If you guys watch film, great press corner," Moseley continued. "So that's one thing that I'm working on, and I just feel like I can continue to get better. So he's just been teaching me that, teaching me to be patient at the line."
Moseley is determined to improve on and off the field. He is set on being a team leader and wants to ensure the younger players learn from his experience. In addition to adding Ward this offseason, the 49ers drafted two cornerbacks—Samuel Womack in the fifth round and Tariq Castro-Fields in the sixth round.
Last year, San Francisco drafted Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir, two young cornerbacks Moseley believes have made leaps in their second NFL seasons.
As veterans were allowed to scatter this offseason, Moseley stayed in Santa Clara to help the younger players' development.
"I stayed back so I could coach them up and let them know what to expect," Moseley explained. "I look at myself every day in the mirror and tell myself I'm a leader on this team and just believing in myself that when I go out there, they're going to look up to me. And I feel it, and I'm ready to take on that leadership role."
As for his role on the defense, some wonder if Moseley might spend at least some time at the nickel position in an effort by the 49ers to get their three best cornerbacks—Moseley, Ward, and Thomas—onto the field at the same time.
"I honestly don't know," Moseley admitted. "I wake up in the morning, come into the building, whatever coaches tell me to do, I just go out there and give it 100 percent."
