© Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The not-so-unsung hero of the 49ers’ secondary will return for another season. K’Waun Williams, or “K,” “KK,” “Shark,” or even “Killer Whale,” as he’s sometimes referred to by his teammates, has had his 2020 team option picked up by the 49ers according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic.
Per his agent, the #49ers have picked up the one-year option on cornerback K'Waun Williams' contract. (Like what the team did with FB Kyle Juszczyk yesterday). Williams, of course, is one of the top nickel CBs in the league.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 5, 2020
Williams, a Paterson, New Jersey native who was signed by the Chicago Bears, cut, then signed by the Cleveland Browns, and cut again, finding himself out of a job for 2016, found his calling as the 49ers’ nickel. While he’s listed at 5’9″, 183 pounds, Williams wasn’t just a tremendous slot corner, often matching up against larger tight ends or quick-cutting wide receivers, but his tackling and edge rushing were consistently impressive for his stature.
While the 49ers under Robert Saleh didn’t blitz all that much, thanks in large part to their arguably league-best defensive front of DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa and Dee Ford, when they did blitz, it was often with Williams, who came screaming off the edge, and displayed an uncanny ability to strip the ball.
Williams forced a team-high four fumbles last season, and was also a dynamic tackler in the run game, which allowed the 49ers to go to nickel packages as their base without much of a let-off from using a strong side linebacker. Those nicknames of “Shark” and “Killer Whale” (a jest by Fred Warner at Williams’ size) came from the fact that he’s a dynamic, impact player who plays well above his stature.
