PFF: Despite defensive departures, 49ers secondary ‘should be solid in 2023’

Pro Football Focus continues its annual offseason position rankings. The analytics site ranked the San Francisco 49ers secondary No. 16 in the NFL a year ago. This year, the unit jumped seven spots and sits at No. 9 in John Kosko’s ranking.

While the 49ers secondary ranked in the league’s bottom half in passing yards allowed last season, its 20 interceptions tied the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most in the NFL. The unit is expected to remain formidable this season.

Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir are expected to start on the outside, with Talanoa Hufanga and Tashaun Gipson handling the safety spots—with a little Ji’Ayir Brown mixed in.

Of course, some of the losses might be a cause for concern. The 49ers defense lost its defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans. Longtime Niners defensive back Jimmie Ward followed Ryans to the Houston Texans. Surprisingly, the Detroit Lions paid handsomely to pluck Emmanuel Moseley away from San Francisco. The cornerback appeared in five games last season before suffering a torn ACL.

“The Niners secondary combined to earn an 84.6 coverage grade last season, the fourth-best mark in the league,” wrote Kosko. “However, safety Jimmie Ward departed in free agency, and former defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans left for the top job in Houston.

“The nickel corner/third safety role is up for grabs, but this is still a strong unit that was tough to pass on in 2022 and should be solid in 2023.”

Free agent acquisition Isaiah Oliver is expected to step in at the nickel spot, a role manned by Ward last season.

“Oliver is someone that I had an opportunity to go against, having been in that division,” new 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks shared in May. “And we didn’t know exactly what was going to happen in free agency with Jimmie. And when [he didn’t stay], we wanted to make sure that we sort of got the best nickel in free agency, and that’s what we went out and did.

“So I’m excited about Oliver. He’s long, he’s physical, can tackle, can cover. He’s going to be a good blitzer for us, everything that we do within this defense.”

As for the rest of the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks came in at No. 17 within Kosko’s ranking. The Arizona Cardinals sit at No. 29, while the Los Angeles Rams landed last on the list at No. 32.