Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The 49ers Get Their Nickel Back
Mar 15, 2023 at 7:00 PM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
The San Francisco 49ers signed cornerback Isaiah Oliver to a two-year deal. The team lost Jimmie Ward in free agency to the Houston Texans. Though the 49ers have second-year cornerback
Samuel Womack III on the roster, they decided to address the slot corner position in free agency.
The Atlanta Falcons drafted Oliver in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft with the 58th overall selection. He finished the 2022 season with 39 tackles, one sack, ten defensive stops, five pass breakups, and an interception. That interception came against the 49ers in his first game back from injured reserve.
Per Pro Football Focus, Oliver completed the 2022 season with a career-high 77.9 overall grade and a career-high 81.5 run-defense grade. Oliver was targeted 38 times in coverage and allowed 27 receptions (68.4 REC%). His most interesting statistic of 2022 was his zero penalties earned.
Can Oliver be the ball-hawking, tackling machine that Ward was at the nickel back position? Only time will tell, but the 49ers can pencil in Oliver as their starting nickel back once camp begins. Expect to see the progression from Womack, and expect the 49ers to draft a corner in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
-
Written by:
Wayne Breezie is a 49ers content creator. He had his first guest appearance on Ronbosports in 2012. He began writing for a Facebook group called the League of the 49ers. Next, he began writing for Nothing But Niners in 2017. In 2018, Wayne Breezie made his debut on YouTube’s Nothing But Niners show. In 2019, he started his podcast called Nitty Gritty Niners. After putting the pen down for several years, Breezie saw an opportunity to write for 49erscap.com. His first published article was in January of 2022 with 49ersCap, and he currently writes and produces weekly podcasts.
The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
No Huddle Podcast: Are the 49ers Showing Their Hand?
(Episode 331) — Brian Renick is in solo to debunk the rumors surrounding Brandon Aiyuk being sent to Pittsburgh, why staying on the 49ers is in Aiyuk's best interest, what to make of the top 30 visits, which position group has gained the most traction as the most likely to be selected in the first round, why drafting best available isn't a bad choice and more.
The audio for the show is embedded above. Remember to subscribe!
You can listen to the latest "No Huddle Podcast" episode above, from our dedicated podcast page, on
49ers continue to express pre-draft interest in dual-threat running back
Austin Jones, the running back who spent three seasons with Stanford and the past two with USC, was among the 44 players in attendance at the San Francisco 49ers local pro day on April 10. Justin Melo of The Draft Network reports that the Bay Area team is keeping tabs on the Pac-12 standout.
After attending #Raiders, #49ers and
49ers sign WR Trent Taylor, reuniting with former draft pick
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
Draft Watch: Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley visiting 49ers on Wednesday
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
