Final year-end grades for 49ers 2021 NFL Draft class

Round 5, Pick No. 172 Overall: 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir

Rookie cornerback Deommodore Lenoir is in a similar position as Jaylon Moore, a late-round pickup who flashed some promising moments during the preseason and seemed poised to take on a bigger role when injuries started to mount up at his position.

Early in the regular season, it looked as if this could potentially be the case, particularly after San Francisco lost cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley to an ankle sprain and Jason Verrett to a season-ending ACL tear.

But Lenoir, after two starts to open the year, was subsequently relegated to backup and special teams duties. And despite the 49ers having issues with their cornerback depth chart for much of the year, Lenoir scantly saw the field on defense, only getting more than 10 defensive snaps just once (25 in Week 13) after Week 3.

Lenoir, who lacked the quick-twitch ability to handle nickel duties in the middle of the field, surrendered a passer rating of 125.4 on the year with two touchdowns allowed.

Coupled with his Pro Football Focus 57.1 overall grade, and the fact he lost his opportunity to take a prime role on the defense, means Lenoir can’t be graded favorably after year one.

Here’s to year two.