Biggest winners, losers from 49ers’ moves in 2023 NFL Draft

Loser: 49ers DB Deommodore Lenoir

Third-year defensive back Deommodore Lenoir is on a bit of an unfortunate trajectory.

Last year, following a season-ending ACL tear to No. 2 cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, Lenoir ultimately stepped into a boundary role and played well enough down the stretch to put himself as the favorite to retain that secondary cornerback role opposite Charvarius Ward.

However, the 49ers double-dipped in the secondary throughout the draft and added two players who could potentially start day one, Penn State defensive back Ji’Ayir Brown in Round 3 and South Alabama cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. in Round 5.

Brown is more of a long-term replacement for now-Houston Texans safety Jimmie Ward, although the Niners could potentially seat him at outside corner right away.

Luter, meanwhile, is an excellent candidate to be a starting boundary corner.

If either got the job, Lenoir would be pushed back down the depth chart again after such a promising ascent a year ago.