San Francisco 49ers free agency 2019: Top 5 targets

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 21: Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr (55) during the National Football League Game between the New York Jets and the Minnesota Vikings on October 21, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 11: Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby (21) during the National Football League game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles on October 11, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. CB Ronald Darby (Philadelphia Eagles)

Be it a shortage of talent at the position or the lack of a consistent pass rush, the San Francisco 49ers gave up far too many scores through the air this past season and made far too few big plays on the defensive side of the football. Coordinator Robert Saleh watched his unit allow 48 offensive touchdowns, 35 of those courtesy of opposing pass-catchers.

Last offseason, the Niners picked up veteran cornerback Richard Sherman, who was determined to show the Seattle Seahawks that they had made a big mistake in giving him the pink slip. The four-time Pro Bowler played and started in 14 games and finished with 37 tackles and just four passes defensed. And for the first time in eight NFL seasons, the three-time All-Pro failed to pick off a pass. In fact, the 49ers as a team finished with only two interceptions in ’18 (more on that later).

Per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, the organization would like to bring back 2014 first-round cornerback Jimmie Ward. But he’s played all 16 games just once in five seasons and has been limited to a combined 16 contests the past two years. Still, head coach Kyle Shanahan remains high on the five-year pro. “I really hope to have him back,” he said. “We all know he’s struggled a little bit to stay healthy. But he’s a guy, as a person, I’ll go to war with every day. I really trust and believe in, and I love him as a player, too.”

Injuries have also been an issue for four-year cornerback Ronald Darby the past two seasons, the latest a torn ACL suffered in November. But it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Niners take a bit of a chance on a 25-year-old performer that has totaled six interceptions and an impressive 54 passes defensed in a combined 46 regular-season games with the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles the past four years.