The San Francisco 49ers are bolstering their defensive roster with recent signings, ensuring depth and strength for the upcoming season. Following the departure of cornerback Isaiah Oliver to the Jets and the potential loss of linebacker Oren Burks to free agency, the 49ers have made significant moves by acquiring former Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom and re-signing linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports on the addition of Isaac Yiadom to the 49ers’ defensive lineup. Yiadom, who played a role similar to Oliver’s in the Saints’ defense last season, brings a different skill set to the table. While both players excelled in coverage, with high grades from Pro Football Focus, Yiadom particularly stood out in run defense. Notably, Yiadom showcased his abilities with an impressive tally of 14 passes defensed. With Yiadom ranking as the 10th-best cornerback in the league by PFF metrics, the 49ers have effectively replaced one talented corner with another. Despite exploring other options, including a visit to the Commanders, the 27-year-old ultimately chose to join the ranks of one of last year’s top defenses instead of aiding the reconstruction of a struggling unit.
Josh Alper of NBC Sports confirms that Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles has inked a new one-year deal with the 49ers, ensuring his return to the team. Flannigan-Fowles has been a consistent presence for the 49ers over the past four years, primarily contributing on special teams while also seeing some playing time on defense, typically around 13 percent of the snaps. With another season in San Francisco, there’s potential for the 27-year-old linebacker to expand his role further. As Oren Burks remains a free agent and there are no other significant additions to the linebacker corps, Flannigan-Fowles could find himself stepping into Burks’ role for the upcoming season.
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