Finally completing a lengthy search for a cornerback who could provide experience and much-needed depth, the San Francisco 49ers reached a contract agreement Friday with unrestricted free agent Fred Weary, ESPN.com has learned.

	Weary

In the past two weeks, San Francisco coaches and team officials auditioned a number of potential candidates, including Emmanuel McDaniel and NFL Europe League standout Antuan Simmons, before chosing the five-year veteran. Weary had been on the 49ers' radar screen for a few weeks and had a Monday workout with the team.

Weary, 29, will sign a one-year contract that likely includes the league minimum base salary of $530,000 for a veteran of his tenure.

The 49ers were already thin at the position entering the offseason, but their situation was exacerbated by starter Jason Webster's recent ankle surgery, which will prevent him from participate in upcoming workouts. Club officials are confident that Webster, a three-year veteran and former second-round choice, will be recovered by the start of training camp, but know there are no guarantees.

In Weary, the 49ers are getting a veteran "nickel" defender, a tough and aggressive player who was once a starter in the New Orleans lineup.

He should certainly bolster a Niners secondary that was too generous in 2002, a significant reason why the 49ers defense allowed the NFL's highest third-down conversion rate. The team's 2002 first-round choice, cornerback Mike Rumph, struggled on third down and was a frequent target of opposition quarterbacks.

A former University of Florida standout, Weary played last season for the Atlanta Falcons, appearing in 16 games with 20 tackles and one interception.

He began his career as the Saints' fourth-round pick, and the 97th prospect selected overall, in the 1998 draft. Weary played four seasons in New Orleans before signing with the Falcons as an unrestricted free agent last spring.

His resume includes 72 appearances and 26 starts, with 190 tackles, seven interceptions and 26 passes defensed. Weary started 12 games each for the Saints in 1999 and 2000 before moving into the "nickel" role in 2001.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.