when you're talking about players who can make an impact sometimes it's because there has been a void at a certain position and for the 49ers they have been looking to get three solid cornerbacks potentially being able to play last year Dio Lenor was able to bridge the gap between two positions playing outside corner in base sets and then in nickel packages which 4ers are in close to 70 to 75% of the time he played the nickel position and he did a really good job here's the problem just brought it up 70 to 75% of the Snaps are a nickel so that means you have a third quarterback on the field and last year it was Ambry Thomas and Ambry Thomas was inconsistent there just wasn't the diligent effort to be consistent every single play play in and play out there's too many penalties uh there's lack of run support when it comes to stopping the Run game and it's just something the 49ers knew they needed to address and they addressed it in a big way in free agency not only did they bring in veteran Rock Yen who's had a pretty good career but they brought in a player Isaac yedam and Isaac yedam comes over from the New Orleans Saints of course he was with the Denver Broncos originally that's who he was drafted with in 2018 but but yedam got a lot of good playing time last year for New Orleans in 2017 I'm sorry in 2023 yam appeared in 17 games so he played in every single game he had eight starts and he had 37 total tackles 14 pass breakups and an interception so right away 14 pass breakups is a huge number for Isaac yedam he probably should get a few more interceptions they probably want him to get a couple more turnovers to be added to his stat line because we know that's exactly what the 49ers do in San Francisco they create turnovers new defensive coordinator coach Nick senson used to handle the ball uh meetings and talk about getting that football into their hands and the 49ers know that that's a key that's not going to be his job this year it's going to be coach Staley's job he's going to be handling that and they're going to be wanting Isaac yam to turn some of those past break UPS into interceptions but the fact he's getting his hand on the ball and the fact that he was so good in those eight starts is very important he also only gave up 48.9% completion percentage on passes targeted his way so under 50% he does a very good job and now he's getting added to a 49ers defense that's going to have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL we brought up Leonard Floyd a little bit but you have Nick Bosa Leonard Floyd and you brought in Javon hardgrave last season and now Malik Collins you traded for you got to feel like you're going to have some pass rush help for the backend and Isaac gam should get more opportunities also depending on how comfortable he is playing within this system he might be able to take more chances than he was allowed to take when he played for the New Orleans Saints so yam Is On Target to potentially be a breakout player also he's a big special teams contributor he had a total of 265 special team snaps for the Saints last season that means you've got a player that can consistently go out and help you Ambry Thomas didn't really help the 49ers on special teams a whole lot so now you're adding a player that not just helps as the third quarterback but also helps you on special teams that's a huge Advantage for the San Francisco 49ers and it approved their team in not just one area of the team but two so complimentary football Isaac yam can help in both that will help him be a breakout player in 2024 yam earned a 80.4 coverage grade finishing 15th best in the NFL among quarterbacks in the league that's according to PFF so 80.4 top 15 that's top half of the league that is absolutely fantastic for a guy they're bringing in to be cornerback three and I know there's still some conversation about reonardo green and how quickly is he going to translate to the starting lineup well part of my criteria earlier was opportunity and Isaac yam is going to have opportunity early because reonardo Green's going to have to learn a transition from playing outside corner at Florida State to playing nickel Corner in the NFL for the 49ers the transition in coverage will be a little bit easier than the transition in run fits that's a tough job Isaac yam is doing what he already did in New Orleans there's no transition period for him the Lenor is the one that handles the transition of going from outside to inside so that gives an advantage to get him right there Renardo green at some point is going to make an impact on this 49ers roster I don't know if that's going to be due to injury in 2024 or if that is going to be because he eventually takes over some of the things that he does are unique and absolutely through the roof ability wise but we have to be patient and we have to wait for Renardo green to translate to being able to play consistent snaps in the NFL and while that's going on the 49ers bring in a guy that could be poised for an even bigger 2024 season than he had in 2023 where he really showed up for the New Orleans Saints so to me Isaac yam is positioned and poised to take a big step forward and have a breakout season in 2024 and with him coming in for one year onee contract the 49ers might not be able to hold it in past 2024 he might turn a season with the 49ers playing with Char various Ward and Dio Lenor taloa Jer Brown and that great front seven of the 49ers into an absolutely big contract on the open market next year he's betting on himself and the 49ers are betting on him having a huge impact in 2024 I think Isaac yam can do it I love his length I love his consistency I love the fact he plays physical at the point of attack I love that he helps in run fits to me Isaac gam is a very solid number three corner and should benefit the 49ers hugely when they go to their nickel package so Isaac gam I think he's poised and ready for a 2024 breakout season