Cornerback Eli Apple might've never lived up to the lofty expectations placed upon him when the New York Giants made him the No. 10 overall pick back in the 2016 NFL Draft.
But, after traveling around the league over the years, eventually landing with the San Francisco 49ers in 2025, the 31-year-old defensive back has nevertheless carved out a nice career for himself.
It's uncertain just where that career may go now, though, after the Niners made him part of their pre-Week 1 roster cuts.
San Francisco's cornerback room is crowded but full of question marks. While the presumed starting trio of Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green and Upton Stout seems fine, Green is currently nursing an injury. So is promising rookie Ephesians Prysock, while reservists like Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones are still in the equation.
As for Apple, he's been here with the 49ers in this kind of situation before.
Eli Applie getting cut doesn't automatically mean full end of tenure with 49ers
Apple first joined the Niners in August of 2025 but failed to make the opening 53-man roster that season, too, subsequently signing with the practice squad later that month before the regular season.
Over the course of his only campaign in the Bay Area to date, Apple had a Dontae Johnson-like experience (remember him?), bouncing back and forth from the practice squad to the active roster several times over the duration of the year.
Considering the many question marks San Francisco has with the back end of its cornerback room, it wouldn't be shocking at all if Apple was brought back in a similar capacity.
Apple ended up playing in two games last season, thanks to the lengthy injury list the 49ers dealt with. And while they may not be eager to rely on him for anything other than a veteran presence who could fill in when absolutely necessary, boasting such a fallback isn't exactly the worst thing either.
For now, though, Apple is unemployed and will certainly look to explore whatever options are available to him going forward.
Perhaps the Niners extend a subsequent option. Perhaps they don't. We'll see.
Add us as a preferred source on Google