Should the 49ers break the bank on Clements?

By Paul Eide  |   Wednesday, January 24, 2007  |  Comments( 17 )

San Francisco 49ers
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With free agency fast approaching, it's time for the 49ers' front office to start considering which direction it will head when March's free agency period rolls around. It seems obvious that the defensive side ball will be the first area addressed, especially considering the 49ers have spent most of their focus over the last two offseasons improving the offense.

Though there are several aspects of the defense the team needs to upgrade, the most pressing area is in the secondary, more specifically the cornerback position.

After striking free agent gold a year ago by signing 2006 Pro Bowler Walt Harris, the organization has to be pretty confident it will make the right decision. Harris had a great year, but he didn't get much help form Shawntae Spencer or any other corner on the roster during the season. That takes us to the largest free agent fish in a small pond, current Buffalo Bills cornerback Nate Clements.

Clements' exploits are reputable, making the Pro Bowl in both 2002 and 2004 and returning a combined total of six touchdowns (four INTs, two punt returns) during his six years in the league. But is he well known enough to pay like one of the game's premier cornerbacks?

When you crunch the numbers, as Realfootball365's own Connor Byrne did with Clements, it seems like the Niners might have to pay him more than he's worth.

Said Byrne, "Odds say that Clements will demand similar money to Denver Broncos All-Pro Champ Bailey. He signed a seven-year, $63 million deal with the Broncos in 2004, making him the richest corner in the game. Clements, of course, isn't on Bailey's level, but he is a high-end shutdown corner, which aren't easy to find these days."

The only other available corner that is in Clements' league as far as ability is New England Patriot Asante Samuel. Samuel played great during the season, picking off 10 passes, and in the playoffs, returning two touchdowns for scores and raised his stock to an unprecedented level.

Samuel is slated to become an unrestricted free agent as long as the Patriots don't slap the franchise tag on him, something the player's agent is hoping doesn't happen.

"Disappointed would be an understatement," said Samuel's agent, Alonzo Shavers . "I think there would be a slight level of resentment there."

Aside from their talents, another positive about both Clements and Samuel is their youth. Clements is 26 and Samuel is 25, which would make the Niners -- or any team who attempts to sign them -- feel good about the long-term investment they would be making.

After Clements and Samuel, the talent at corner dips considerably. Names like the Seahawks' Jordan Babineaux, the Patriots' Randall Gay and Colts teammates Jason David and Nick Harper begin to enter the discussion.

As far as short- or long-term solutions go, these names really shouldn't warrant any consideration. For the 49ers to think they could find another Harris-type player on the waiver wire is asking a lot -- especially from guys who are at least less experienced, if not less talented, than the aforementioned Harris.

Whether the team decides to spend big money on a corner is anyone's guess. With so many big-name linebackers ready to hit the market (Lance Briggs, Adalius Thomas, Cato June, London Fletcher-Baker), maybe San Francisco heads in that direction.

Either way, there is no question the 49ers will have to spend some money this offseason to improve themselves. With no mid-level talent available at the CB position, why not gamble on Clements, who has 23 interceptions in 96 career games? If the 49ers don't, they may be regretting it a year from now.

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