The 49ers have plenty of stars and household names, but these five less-discussed players could play substantial roles in 2024.
The San Francisco 49ers are one of the NFL's top contenders heading into 2024. Despite coming off a Super Bowl loss last February, the Niners' core remains largely intact during the opening waves of the league's new year.
It sure helps to have plenty of stars on the roster. Names like tight end George Kittle, edge Nick Bosa, linebacker Fred Warner, left tackle Trent Williams, running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and quarterback Brock Purdy all help in ensuring San Francisco's standing as a serious Super Bowl threat.
But it can often be the lesser stars who ultimately help turn a playoff-contending team into a Super Bowl-contending one.
The 49ers have plenty of those under-the-radar players who fit into that category, too, and these five could ultimately wind up playing substantial roles for the Niners over the course of 2024.
No. 5: Safety Ji'Ayir Brown
At this point, it's unclear whether or not All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga will be 100-percent recovered from the torn ACL suffered last season, which led to then-rookie defensive back Ji'Ayir Brown taking over closer to the box.
The third-round NFL Draft choice out of Penn State impressed in his newfound starting role, finishing with 35 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions in relief of Hufanga.
With veteran safety Tashaun Gipson unsigned, Brown seems poised to take on a substantially bigger role in the defensive backfield regardless of Hufanga's immediate future.
Young defensive backs often struggle early in their pro careers, but Brown can look to build upon a solid start in which he held opposing quarterbacks to a 78.4 passer rating when targeting him.
If Brown's ascent continues on an expected trajectory, he easily could be a much bigger household name in 2024.
No. 4: Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir
Like Ji'Ayir Brown, San Francisco fans need no introduction to fourth-year cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, who truly came into his own last season as a full-time starter within the secondary.
The 49ers tasked Lenoir with moving from the boundary into covering the slot after the failed attempt to place recently released Isaiah Oliver there, and Lenoir responded by finishing his 2023 campaign with career-highs in tackles (84), passes defended (10) and interceptions (three).
Charvarius Ward is clearly the Niners' No. 1 cornerback who played at an All-Pro level in 2023, but Lenoir certainly held his own, alleviating any serious concerns the team had about his ability to thrive within a full-time role.
By all accounts, Lenoir will be a featured member of San Francisco's defensive backfield.
Now, Lenoir enters a contract year and will be motivated enough to perform at a level that'll hopefully result in a sizable contract when 2025 comes around.
No. 3: Linebacker De'Vondre Campbell
Two years ago, linebacker De'Vondre Campbell was certainly a household name. One of the 49ers' offseason free-agent pickups, Campbell is certainly a less-heralded pickup when placed behind the likes of Fred Warner.
Campbell, the 2021 first-team All-Pro, claimed the Green Bay Packers misused him in recent seasons, which could explain the drop in production from that stellar season.
Injuries played a role, too, limiting Campbell to just 11 games played in 2023.
However, in light of star linebacker Dre Greenlaw's Super Bowl Achilles tear, there's a very good chance Campbell sees a lot of action for much of 2024 while Greenlaw recovers, meaning that the former Packer's role within the Niners defense will be significant.
If he comes close to playing at the same level like he did in 2021, Campbell will be a name San Francisco will be glad to have.
No. 2: Wide receiver Jauan Jennings
Again, 49ers fans need no introduction to No. 3 wide receiver Jauan Jennings. Had the Niners won the Super Bowl last February, he easily could have been the game's MVP.
The third-down weapon, statistically, had a down year in 2023 with career-lows in receptions (19), yards (265) and touchdowns (one), yet San Francisco always appreciates just how good a perimeter blocker he is.
That's one of the reasons they tendered the restricted free agent, ensuring he sticks around with the 49ers for one more season.
Entering a contract year, though, Jennings will want to be a much bigger X-factor for Brock Purdy within head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense. Jennings might not put up gaudy numbers or anything of that manner.
But the impact he makes will likely result in the Niners winning games they otherwise may have lost.
No. 1: Cornerback Isaac Yiadom
San Francisco had relatively few glaring needs this offseason, but landing a quality No. 2 boundary cornerback was one of them.
Charvarius Ward is a star, yes, while Deommodore Lenoir is on the ascent. But the free-agent pickup of former New Orleans Saints corner Isaac Yiadom shouldn't be undervalued. The 49ers are getting a true starting-caliber defensive back who is coming off a career year in which he recorded 14 pass breakups and held opposing quarterbacks to a 48.9 completion percentage when targeting him, a career-best mark.
Those opposing quarterbacks already know Ward's pedigree and will likely choose to target Yiadom more frequently than his on-field counterpart.
Should Yiadom match the kind of efficiency he had last season, the Niners' starting cornerback group would be about as complete as it has been in the Kyle Shanahan era.
That certainly makes Yiadom a player to watch this upcoming season.