The San Francisco 49ers season ended disappointingly in the 2022 postseason. They fell just short on the road against their NFC West divisional foes, the Los Angeles Rams, in the NFC Championship Game. The 49ers blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter to be eliminated as the Rams went on to win Super Bowl 56.
Heading into the offseason, the needs for San Francisco were clear. They wanted to move on from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and his $27 million contract. San Francisco traded up to the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and used that selection on quarterback Trey Lance, to whom they are ready to give the starting job.
Secondly, they knew that they had to upgrade their secondary. A big reason that they didn’t advance to the Super Bowl was their inability to slow down the Rams’ passing game as Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. ran free throughout the secondary without much resistance.
Slowing down that duo is easier said than done, but when it mattered most, the 49ers couldn’t get the job done. As a result, they were aggressive in free agency, signing Charvarius Ward, one of the top cornerbacks available, away from the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ward is a nice addition, but the team needs more. Emmanuel Mosley is an okay starter opposite of Ward, registering a grade of 69.1 in 2021. But, slot corner K’Waun Williams remains a free agent.
If the 49ers are looking to address this need in the 2022 NFL Draft, one sleeper that they should have their eyes on in the third round is Damarri Mathis out of Pittsburgh. Mathis was Pitt’s top cover corner in 2021 and is someone that could develop into a serviceable player at the next level.
He has some limitations because he lacks the top-end speed or elite coverage skills, but in a system that plays to his strengths, he could become an immediate contributor. He has experience playing Cover-3 in college, which is the defense that the 49ers use most often.
Mathis excels in zone coverage and isn’t afraid to mix it up in the run game. His instincts are strong, which helps when playing zone coverage. But, when asked to play in space or keep up on deep routes, things get a little hairy.
While he may never turn into a lockdown No. 1 cornerback, Mathis can provide some versatility with his skill set. In some packages he can play safety, making him an intriguing draft target for a team such as the 49ers who need help in the secondary.
