Which 49ers came away as winners or losers after NFL free agency?
By Peter Panacy
Loser: 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir
Charvarius Ward automatically shakes up the Niners’ depth chart at cornerback. Fellow corners Ambry Thomas and Emmanuel Moseley now have to compete for the No. 2 spot here, although it’s possible San Francisco takes one of those two names and puts him in at nickel, which is essentially a starting position in today’s NFL anyway.
However, second-year pro Deommodore Lenoir just watched himself get pushed way down towards the bottom of the depth chart.
Granted, Lenoir became something of an afterthought during the second half of 2021 despite some modestly impressive moments, both during training camp and the preseason. However, his lack of coverage skills and speed showed once the regular season began, and it sure looked as if the 49ers weren’t comfortable at all with putting him in a featured role.
No, they felt more comfortable with castoff veteran options like Josh Norman and Dre Kirkpatrick.
Sure, young defensive backs can struggle early in their respective careers. But the Ward signing surely isn’t a good indicator of the Niners having much confidence in Lenoir’s development.