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Donte Whitner Drops Blunt Take on 49ers Defensive Back
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- Donte Whitner Drops Blunt Take on 49ers Defensive Back
The San Francisco 49ers entered the offseason with room for improvement in the secondary. They leave OTAs with optimism that the defensive backfield could be solid in 2026.
As for what players will contribute the most for the team, that much is unclear. One retired NFL star had a few thoughts on a player that is going under the radar for many this offseason.
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Former 49ers star defensive back Donte Whitner identified one player who could surprise in the San Francisco secondary in the 2026 season. On his "Grit Code Podcast," Whitner opined that one new Niners signing Ashtyn Davis may not just be a depth piece. Here's what he had to say about the veteran player.
"I don't think this move was made for him to be a backup. He's coming to this team to compete for a starting job… I think this was a move to Ji'Ayir Brown and said 'we gave you two years as a starter. In this third year, we cannot allow you to be a detriment to our success and if you start the season the way that you ended last season, we have a bunch of other guys in this locker room that we will replace you with'."
When Whitner speaks, people listen for a reason. The former Niners defender helped lead the team to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2012 season after building a reputation for toughness in the National Football League.
Experience matters. Whitner knows as much after several years in the league. And while some may count Davis' 29-year-old age as a detriment as he moves toward the back end of his prime, there's something to be said for how many different offensive looks the veteran player has seen in the league.
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Included in Whitner's reasoning is that the team cannot wait around for younger players to live up to their potential. It's time to produce. According to Whitner, San Francisco has too lofty a ceiling to wait for players to come along.
The 49ers' margin for error is still thin in a competitive NFC West division. In a season in which the Niners will also face teams from the loaded AFC West, the team cannot leave anything to chance. So, it's possible San Francisco goes with a proven commodity over a defensive back with higher potential.
Davis is coming in to win a starting job. We'll keep an eye on defensive backs over training camp.
