Have the 49ers Soured on Samuel Womack?

The 49ers have lost more players than they have gained since free agency started.

It was always going to be that way with them. They like to play the compensatory draft pick game as a means of restocking for the next year. Retaining everyone just was never going to be possible. Plus, players from previous draft classes will be asked to step up. One of those players is slot cornerback Samuel Womack III.

Womack started off strong in his rookie campaign last year. In training camp, he was performing admirably and demonstrated playmaking ability in the preseason. Unfortunately, the plug was pulled instantly in Week 1 with him as the starter. Clearly Kyle Shanahan did not like something he was seeing from him, which is probably why the 49ers elected to sign former Falcons' slot cornerback Isaiah Oliver. 

With Jimmie Ward going to Houston, a clear path opened up for Womack to start, but Oliver surely didn't sign on to be a backup. Last season, Oliver finished with a 72.4 passer rating in his coverage, which ranked as seventh best for all cornerbacks. Signing a player like that means it only lessens the odds that Womack will be the 49ers' starting nickel, if not guarantees he won't be it. So, have the 49ers soured on Womack already?

The signing of Oliver says it all. A team's actions will always reveal what they're truly thinking. At the very least, Womack is on the doorstep of being in the doghouse. I think Oliver is absolutely going to be the starter, while the 49ers end up selling it as a "competition" to bring the best out of him and Womack. I have zero clue what Womack did or didn't do to warrant having little to no faith in him taking over the initial void left by Ward. It's not like he played badly against the Bears in Week 1. 

Perhaps the value of getting a player such as Oliver who can play solid in coverage and also support efficiently in the run game was too good for the 49ers to pass up. Either way, it's not a great look on Womack. I would imagine the 49ers ended up giving him reps at outside cornerback just to see if they can find a role for him. If it's one thing the 49ers love to do with their players, it's playing them out of their natural position.

Competition won't hurt Womack. He should treat this as a challenge and a slight. Oliver returned last season after recovering from a torn ACL, so you never how a player coming off a severe injury, especially when they're on the 49ers, will hold up for season. He might end up getting a chance to fill. Either way, Womack has to show incredible work ethic to show the 49ers he can be a future starter.