San Francisco 49ers OTAs: Opportunity knocks for several unfamiliar faces on defensive side of the ball
Most of the attention during the San Francisco 49ers' offseason workout program is likely to be fixed on the offense. Quarterback Brock Purdy gets the chance to have a full offseason having helped the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in a 2023 season he entered off the back of elbow surgery, but he begins […]
Most of the attention during the San Francisco 49ers' offseason workout program is likely to be fixed on the offense.
Quarterback Brock Purdy gets the chance to have a full offseason having helped the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in a 2023 season he entered off the back of elbow surgery, but he begins OTAs with his top target, Brandon Aiyuk, still without a long-term contract. There's also likely to be significant focus on one of his newest weapons, surprise first-round wide receiver Ricky Pearsall.
However, ahead of a 2024 season in which the 49ers have a new defensive coaching set up, with Nick Sorensen replacing Steve Wilks as the coordinator and former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley also taking a position on staff, it's important not to forget about that side of the ball.
Save for the likes of Dre Greenlaw and Charvarius Ward, both recovering from surgery, the 49ers' defensive stars will all be on show at OTAs.
But of more intrigue at this point in the calendar are some of the less familiar faces, including a trio of players whose versatility could see them play substantial roles in 2024.
DL Yetur Gross-Matos
With the draft and the 49ers' rookie class taking prominence over recent weeks, it would be easy to forget about the surprising move the Niners made to sign Gross-Matos in free agency.
San Francisco signing Gross-Matos for two years, $18 million was a decision that raised plenty of eyebrows. Gross-Matos' 4.5 sacks for the Carolina Panthers last year represented an underwhelming career-high.
But Gross-Matos boasts the explosive athletic traits and arm length the 49ers desire among their defensive linemen and general manager John Lynch revealed the team believes the former Penn State pass rusher has the inside-out versatility to fill the void left by Charles Omenihu's departure after the 2022 season.
In other words, the 49ers see Gross-Matos as somebody who can play the edge on base downs and then kick inside and thrive as an interior pass rusher on true passing downs. For Gross-Matos, OTAs will hopefully mark his first steps towards proving them right.
LB Dee Winters
While Greenlaw continues to recover from the torn Achilles he suffered in the 49ers' Super Bowl 58 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, veteran De'Vondre Campbell will likely be the first choice at WILL linebacker playing next to MIKE linebacker Fred Warner.
With Greenlaw's readiness for Week 1 a big question-mark, there is an opening at the SAM linebacker position, which Oren Burks vacated when he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency.
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles is the most experienced candidate for the position, but it could well be Winters at the front of the queue.
The 2023 sixth-round pick played limited defensive snaps as a rookie but, with 4.49 speed, Winters has the athletic ability to hold up in coverage, make plays against the run and have a significant impact as a blitzer. He had 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in his final season with TCU in 2022.
Praised recently by new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen as someone who has "come a long way", Winters would appear to have an opportunity to carve out a significant role for himself in year two. He'll need to continue to impress in the workout program to ensure he gets it.
CB Renardo Green
The 49ers clearly drafted for the future when they selected Florida State corner Green in the second round.
Both of the 49ers' starting corners, Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, are free agents next offseason, with the physical and versatile Green likely serving as a replacement for the member of that duo they are not able to retain.
Yet Green has a chance to make an impact in the more immediate future after Sorensen revealed he will start his 49ers career working at nickel corner.
Green predominantly played outside corner at Florida State, but the Niners are confident he can excel in the slot with his aggressiveness and stop-start quickness.
The second half of last season saw Lenoir play outside on base downs and move inside to the slot on nickel downs after Isaiah Oliver, signed to be the starting nickel, struggled significantly.
Green vindicating the 49ers belief he can thrive as an inside corner could potentially remove the need for Lenoir to move around so often.
With Lenoir's versatility and the depth the 49ers have following the additions of veterans Isaac Yiadom and Rock Ya-Sin, Green isn't under huge pressure to put himself in a position to contribute right away, but San Francisco's secondary will look a lot stronger if he does. As such, Green's first full team practices as a 49er are worthy of significant attention.
