SANTA CLARA — In a league that has become skewed toward wide receivers in terms of big numbers and salaries, the 49ers made sure to address the position group assigned to cover them.
They were pretty good at cornerback in 2023, with corners accounting for 10 of the 22 interceptions that tied for the NFL lead. Charvarius Ward ascended from good to bordering on great with a career high five interceptions, a league-leading 23 pass breakups and recognition as a second-team All-Pro. When the 49ers had 20 interceptions in 2022, cornerbacks had only four.
But other than Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, who in his third season played both outside and in the slot, it wasn’t a deep group in terms of production. The early returns in training camp are encouraging, although things will heat up next ween when padded practices begin Monday.
A roll call of the players who could be tasked with will be counted on in coverage when Justin Jefferson of Minnesota is on the opposite sideline in Week 2 and Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua of the Rams in Week 3, to name a couple of early challenges:
Isaac Yiadom: At 6-foot-1, 188 pounds Yiadom has turned heads through the first three practices and has received work with the first team. Signed as a free agent from New Orleans.
Renardo Green: The 49ers love his tenacity and he’ll get a look in both the slot, where his physicality can be put to good use, and outside. A second-round pick, No. 64 overall, Green was the highest drafted corner in the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan era so it would be a disappointment if he doesn’t have a prominent role.
Darrell Luter Jr.: Had a leaping interception in Thursday’s practice and free of the injury issues that robbed him of developmental time as a rookie fifth-round draft pick out of Alabama.
Rock Ya-Sin: A five-year veteran of 66 games and 39 starts with Indianapolis, the Raiders and Baltimore, Ya-Sin isn’t working with the starters but could climb if continues to break up passes.
Ambry Thomas: Thomas’ three seasons have fluctuated in terms of consistency since he was third-round draft pick in 2021 after sitting out his last year at Michigan in the COVID year.
Samuel Womack III: Lost much of his second season to an MCL injury after playing in 16 games with an interception as a rookie fifth-round pick from Toledo.
Deommodore Lenoir (2), bringing down Michael Gallup of Dallas, was the 49ers’ third leading tackler as a cornerback in 2023. Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group
The leader is Ward, who had offseason core surgery and is determined to have an even better year in the final year of a three-year, $40.5 million contract which was one of the 49ers’ better free agent signings. He is setting himself up for a mega payday with a comparable or superior season,
The five interceptions represent half of Ward’s career total and his confidence is at an all-time high.
“Knowing I’m a big dog, the No. 1 corner on this team, I felt like I had to play like it and I did last year,” Ward said following practice Friday.
Ward touted Lenoir as an All-Pro candidate both inside and outside and has liked what he’s seen from Yiadom.
“I think he’s scrappy, a real good competitor with good balance and stance,” Ward said. “I think he’s going to be able to come in and contribute to us for sure.”
Nick Sorensen, who worked as a defensive passing game specialist and was elevated after Steve Wilks was fired as defensive coordinator, likes that he sees in terms of physicality. Lenoir was the 49ers third-leading tackler behind linebacker Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, with Ward fourth.
“It’s a mentality thing around here,” Sorensen said. “Are these 49er guys? We want guys that fit us, right? They’re tough. They’re going to play with the violence we like. They love football. You can see it.”
Training camp and the exhibition season will determine roles and if Lenoir will be both an inside and outside corner. The 2023 plan was for Isaiah Oliver to replace free agent Jimmie Ward as the nickel corner, but he struggled mightily in coverage and Lenoir was up to the challenge of both roles.
“In an ideal world you want everyone to be at their best position all the time and never have to move,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “But if someone’s our bet outside guy and our best inside guy, that’s what you’ll do. You always want your best three on the field, however it can tie with your best 11.”
Ward stopped short of proclaiming it the deepest group of corners he’s seen since joining the 49ers, saying, “We’ll see.”
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Wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who has worked against the corners in practice in the offseason and through the first three camp practices, had no such reservations when asked the same question.
“For sure,” Samuel said. “From top to bottom we’ve got a lot of good guys and it’s going to be tough to see who makes it and who doesn’t make it. You see a lot of young guys making plays and a lot of old guys doing what we know they do and it’s just going to make it better.”