How the 49ers Benefit From the Addition of Jason Verrett

Jason Verrett is likely not going to make an impact on the field, but there is still a way for him to help the 49ers.

Cornerback Jason Verrett is back with the San Francisco 49ers.

Although, it really didn't feel like he ever left since his only stint with another team was with the Houston Texans. Verrett is starting to be the new Dontae Johnson at this point where his return to the 49ers is inevitable.

The knee jerk reaction with signing Verrett is that he can help the 49ers' secondary. However, I'd pump the brakes on that. Verrett hasn't played in a game since Week 1 of 2021. The lockdown corner that he once was is probably a thing of the past. He's not with the 49ers to come save the day, but at least the 49ers can get a closer look to see if he can provide sufficient depth in case of an injury to a starter.

"Just coming in, being on the practice squad, showing us where he is at, being a part of our team that way," said Kyle Shanahan on signing Verrett. "When you're on the practice squad, you're only a couple plays away from possibly being a starter or just being out there on game day. So, he's going to try to show us he's ready for that moment and hopefully give us some depth there once we get a chance to see him.”

Barring injury, it is unlikely that Verrett doesn't ever suit up for the 49ers this season. Still, there is a way for him to help the 49ers that ends up proving to be adequately beneficial to them. Verrett can act as a "coach" to the cornerbacks, and even the secondary as a whole. The advice and tutelage that he can provide to the young players like Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir can go a long way.

Let's say one of them gets beat badly on a costly play. Verrett can be that on hand "coach" that gets these guys uplifted and able to correct their mistakes. It's not far-fetched for Verrett to help Charvarius Ward out either since Verrett is the more tenured player. Ward does view Verrett as his senior, so receiving coaching from him is surely possible.

Expecting Verrett to make an impact on the field at this point of his career is outlandish, but his experience and being hands on with the young secondary can certainly still give the 49ers an added benefit.