There've been rumblings and suggestions the San Francisco 49ers aren't wholly thrilled about two-year pro cornerback Renardo Green; many suggesting the Niners could dangle their 2024 second-round draftee on the trade block ahead of the 2026 season.
True, both general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan endorsed Green during an offseason press conference, and the coach explained why he briefly benched Green during last January's playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
If there were musings about trading Green, perhaps the arrival of Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator changed all that.
And Green could be one of those players who flourishes most under Morris' tutelage.
Renardo Green stands to benefit the most under 49ers DC Raheem Morris
Despite the many growing pains fans observed from Green in 2025, there were plenty of positives. His allowed completion percentage dropped nearly five points from the 60.0-percent mark his rookie season, and Green allowed one touchdown in coverage in contrast to the three surrendered in 2024. Opposing quarterbacks also saw a drop of over eight points in passer rating from years one to two.
Morris, meanwhile, is poised to maximize a player like Green's potential, though, likely shifting from the zone-heavy scheme employed by last year's coordinator, Robert Saleh, to more of a press-man coverage.
It's an element pointed out by 49ers Webzone's Marc Adams that could make a massive difference for the third-year pro:
[Green's] physical style fits Morris almost perfectly. Instead of constantly bailing into soft zones, Green could see more opportunities to challenge receivers at the line of scrimmage and play tighter man coverage, something many evaluators believe suits his game better. A more aggressive scheme could transform him from a promising young starter into a difference-maker at the position.
Morris is a defensive backs specialist, so he'll unquestionably be taking a hard look at Green to figure out ways to best utilize his skill set.
And it also helps explain why the Niners were quick to debunk any trade rumors surrounding their cornerback, possibly at Morris' suggestion.
Should the confluence of events come together appropriately, Green's third year in the league could ultimately be his best yet.
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