49ers get out in front of offseason headache by signing Deommodore Lenoir to huge five-year extension
The San Francisco 49ers were facing a potential headache next offseason with both of their top two cornerbacks, Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, scheduled for unrestricted free agency. That headache has now been removed. San Francisco, per Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports, has agreed to a five-year, $92 million extension with Lenoir, who has emerged […]
The San Francisco 49ers were facing a potential headache next offseason with both of their top two cornerbacks, Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, scheduled for unrestricted free agency. That headache has now been removed.
San Francisco, per Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports, has agreed to a five-year, $92 million extension with Lenoir, who has emerged as one of the most important players on the 49er defense.
Lenoir plays both outside corner and the slot for the 49ers, operating inside on nickel downs.
It is a challenging dual role but one in which he has thrived over the last two seasons, with his ability to produce sticky coverage in man and zone, make plays on the ball at the catch point and fit the run superbly turning Lenoir into the most valuable player in the San Francisco secondary.
This season, Lenoir has six pass breakups and two interceptions, picking off Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott in successive weeks. Per Sports Info Solutions, his passer rating against of 35.7 is the third-best among cornerbacks with at least 20 targets this season.
Still aged just 25 and with a lot of football ahead of him, Lenoir would likely have been very difficult for the 49ers to re-sign at the end of the league year given what he might have been able to command on the open market in an offseason in which San Francisco is likely to have to make Brock Purdy one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in football.
But, by doing the deal now, the 49ers have got out ahead of that potential issue and locked down one of the NFL's premier young defenders for the long term.
It may mean the 49ers will have to move on from Ward and allow him to walk in free agency. However, with Lenoir blossoming into one of the league's best and rookie second-round pick Renardo Green enjoying an impressive first season, the Niners should be in excellent shape in the secondary for many years to come.
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