Should K’Waun Williams, a cornerback, return to the 49ers?
The 49ers, in addition to Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, may use a third cornerback that they can rely on.
Continuity has been a recurring topic for the San Francisco 49ers since their inaugural Super Bowl appearance in 2019.
Instead, they prefer to refer to it as “running it back” while using the same team. After Deebo Samuel essentially repeated that idea with Kay Adams earlier this week, it appears that theme will not change. So how about bringing back players from the 49ers’ past great postseason runs who are currently unrestricted free agents?
One player who will become available on Mar. 11 when free agency kicks off is slot cornerback K’Waun Williams. During his time with the 49ers, Williams was a tremendous player. He was basically a half cornerback/linebacker given how he had the skills of both positions. Williams would leave the 49ers in free agency back in 2022 to join the Denver Broncos. It wasn’t feasible for the 49ers to retain at the time.
However, they can now return him. The 49ers have a need at cornerback, and his value is not as high as it was two years ago. Even though Deommodore Lenoir and Charvarius Ward are the two constants, they still lack a third member to make a reliable trio. For whatever reason, Kyle Shanahan still doesn’t seem to fully trust Ambry Thomas, so maybe when Williams comes back, he’ll get that trust too.
Should Williams be brought back by the 49ers?
Not at all. Williams is not a player the 49ers should reconcile with, as he has always been seen as a player who is greatly underappreciated. If Jauan Jennings isn’t returning, the only former 49ers player they should consider bringing back is Azeez Al-Shaair, D.J. Jones, or Kendrick Bourne.
The lack of desire to want Williams back doesn’t really have to do too much with his skills. He is actually still a fairly solid player, but he is never available. He missed all of 2023 due to a foot injury that needed surgery. The year before that he was dealing with torn ligaments in his wrist and his hand that held him out of three games.
Williams is only appealing to bring back because he is a well-known talent and will be inexpensive. But that doesn’t make up for not wanting him back. By the time he turns 33, his body is obviously failing. Let Williams be the past and savor the wonderful times you shared.
