3 ways 49ers go about replacing departed K’Waun Williams
By Peter Panacy
Option No. 2: 49ers go with second-year pro Deommodore Lenoir
Similar in build to K’Waun Williams, San Francisco’s fifth-round draft choice from a year ago, former Oregon cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, certainly has to factor in as a possibility to occupy the No. 1 nickel spot.
At 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, Lenoir had some splash moments during training camp and in the preseason a year ago, eventually starting two games early in the regular season before losing favor as the year went along and regularly finding himself inactive.
That’s usually what a 125.4 passer rating allowed will do.
Read More: 3 things to expect from Niners CB Deommodore Lenoir
Still, young defensive backs often struggle in the transition from the college ranks to the NFL, and a Lenoir ascent certainly wouldn’t be the first time 49ers fans saw a rookie go from an inexperienced pro to a safe option on defense in a full season’s time.
A problem, though, is Lenoir almost exclusively played boundary duties with the Ducks, and his twitchiness (or lack thereof) might not be sufficient enough for the wide array of coverage responsibilities he’d have in the middle of the defensive formation.
However, Lenoir certainly has to be considered a plausible option for the Niners and may surprise enough to work his way up the depth chart.