Kyle Madson
July 22, 2024 4:33 pm PT
The 49ers have never really prioritized the secondary when building their defense, but last season the play in the back end helped solve some of the issues they were having on the defensive line.
Now they’ll enter training camp this year with some pretty sizable question marks about what their defensive backfield is going to look like. While they have one reliable duo, almost everything else on the depth chart is up in the air.
Here are the big questions facing the 49ers at CB going into training camp:
1. Who's the third starter?
Oct 23, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) reacts after a turnover against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
The 49ers have two starting spots nailed down with Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir. They figure to be on the field every down, while the third corner will step on the field for nickel packages. There’s a chance that instead of just trying to find a player good enough to start, they’ll have a real competition between a handful of legitimate candidates for the nickel CB spot.
2. Where is Lenoir going to play?
Oct 15, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (2) tackles Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) during the second quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
This piggybacks off the first question. Lenoir has the versatility to play outside or in the slot. It’s not immediately clear if the team plans to have him play outside in base packages and then kick inside to play the slot in nickel packages, or if he’ll strictly play inside while the third starting CB mans the outside in both base and sub personnel groups. It will likely depend on how the rest of the depth chart shakes out, but either way Lenoir should see plenty of playing time.
3. Is the rookie ready?
Dec 2, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Renardo Green (8) breaks up a pass intended for Louisville Cardinals wide receiver Jadon Thompson (2) in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
One of the biggest keys to the 49ers’ season could be how rapidly rookie second-round pick Renardo Green develops. He’s a talented player who San Francisco selected 64th overall — the earliest they’ve ever picked a cornerback in the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan era. If he steps onto the field Day 1 and looks the part of a starter it not only helps the 49ers in 2024, but it would help them transition into 2025 and beyond.
4. Did Isaac Yiadom turn a corner?
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 10: Isaac Yiadom #27 of the New Orleans Saints breaks up a pass intended for Chris Moore #11 of the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter at Caesars Superdome on September 10, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Yiadom is coming off his best season as a pro with the Saints last season. Before that he was primarily a special teams contributor. There’s a chance that San Francisco simply sees him as a special teams contributor and depth piece, but if he picks up where he left off in 2023 he might just be the third starting CB. Having last year’s version of Yiadom on the roster would make the 49ers much deeper at a position where they’ve struggled to find quality players.
5. Is Ambry Thomas going to turn a corner?
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) can’t haul in a reception as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas (20) pressures during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-3. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Speaking of turning corners, this is a make-or-break year for Thomas. He’ll have another opportunity to earn a starting job. If he doesn’t, he could find himself on the outside looking in at a roster spot. If he does, he could be in line for a nice payday in free agency assuming he holds down the starting job for a full season. We’ll learn a lot about Thomas by how he fares in training camp.
