In all the offseason talk about 49ers cornerback candidates, one player who received very little attention was Chris Davis.
Yet when the 49ers open their regular season Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams, Davis is expected to be the team’s No. 1 slot cornerback, a starter in the nickel defense.
His route to earning the position was long and winding.
Davis was a standout cornerback at Auburn but wasn’t drafted in 2014. He signed with the San Diego Chargers as a free agent and made the team, appearing in 12 games, with one start. But he was released before the 2015 season and later signed with San Francisco. He appeared in just three games for the 49ers, with limited snaps.
But new 49ers defensive backs coach Jeff Hafley told Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee that, in watching film of Davis’ limited NFL action, he was impressed. Hafley told Barrows that Davis demonstrated quick feet and a combative attitude.
“He does play with a chip on his shoulder, which you love as a coach,” Hafley said.
But when the 49ers began training camp, there was a large group of cornerbacks competing for playing time in the slot, including Jaquiski Tartt.
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Yet Davis continued to impress throughout the offseason programs, training camp and exhibition games. He was in on 10 tackles and returned two kickoffs for a combined 32 yards. Against the Rams, he should be the No. 1 slot corner, with Tramaine Brock and Jimmie Ward as starting outside corners.
Davis now has a chance to make a name for himself in pro football, even though he has everlasting fame at Auburn for the famous “Kick Six” play in which he returned a missed field goal attempt 109 yards for a touchdown in a dramatic win over Alabama in 2013.
Hafley believes Davis has a chance to be a playmaker this season.
“I’d never seen him play before,” he said. “So everybody kind of had the clean slate and he’s just worked his way up. … Hopefully, he’ll keep progressing.”
Said Davis: “I came here to compete. That’s one thing I asked (GM) Trent (Baalke) at the end of (last) season when I got here, ‘Would I be able to compete for a starting position?’ He told me, ‘Of course.’ Tht’s what it is right now and I’m trying to make the most of my opportunity.”
