SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Four years ago, the San Francisco 49ers landed the most coveted free agent cornerback on the market. Now they've cut that player in hopes of luring another.

The 49ers released top cornerback Nate Clements on Thursday, clearing salary cap space while also leaving the secondary even more short-handed in the interim.

The 10-year veteran started every game for the Niners during a disappointing 6-10 campaign last season. He returned in 2010 after missing the final nine games in 2009, when he broke his right shoulder blade in San Francisco's 18-14 loss at Indianapolis on Nov. 1 that year.