The 49ers know their top two starters at cornerback, but didn’t take the chance to sign Jaire Alexander and solidify their depth.
The 49ers had the opportunity to sign a Pro Bowl corner in Jaire Alexander following his release by the Green Bay Packers. It was one they seemingly decided not to take because of the comfort level they have with their starters.
Alexander signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Ravens this week. Asked about the 49ers not signing Alexander, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco told KNBR:
“The 49ers have their starters. So, I think that a guy like Alexander would have to come to the 49ers on backup money, and with the understanding of, hey, you’re our third guy. So, I don’t think that they would have been in the market necessarily to pay a guy starting money, and a guy who thinks he’s coming in as the starter as long as he’s healthy. I’m sure Jaire Alexander is at a point in his career where—and rightfully so—he considers himself a starter. But I think, for the 49ers, where they are with the salary cap and everything else, they weren’t going to go out and pay another guy to come in with the starter’s money that it takes to sign a guy when you already have Renardo Green and Deommodore Lenoir.”
The Niners are right to be comfortable with Lenoir and Green. Lenoir has established himself as one of the better young corners in the NFL, one who excels in coverage from the slot and the outside, while Green enjoyed an extremely encouraging rookie season, displacing Isaac Yiadom as the third corner in 2024 and seeing starter reps when Charvarius Ward was out of the lineup.
With Ward now in Indianapolis, Green is set to start full-time on the outside. However, by pursuing Alexander the 49ers — who have the second-most cap space in the NFL — could have firmly solidified their depth at a premium position with an extremely talented if oft-injured player who can operate inside and out.
The reasoning Maiocco lays out is reasonable, but it leaves the 49ers in a position where the third corner spot looks a little shaky, and sets up what will likely be the most important battle of training camp when it starts next month.
Competition for the third corner spot will likely come down to a battle between free agent signing Tre Brown, the former Seattle Seahawk, and third-round pick Upton Stout.
Stout, a diminutive slot corner out of Western Kentucky, has impressed during to OTAs and minicamp, with The Athletic’s Matt Barrows praising him for playing above his size with his determination, describing Stout as “being ready for the rough and tumble aspects of the position”.
The decision will essentially be a choice between going with Stout as a full-time nickel, or keeping Lenoir in the dual role that has seen him play the slot on nickel downs and outside corner on base downs. In the latter scenario, Brown would be the favorite to play outside on nickel downs.
Brown has starting experience from his time in Seattle. However, the numbers from recent years are not particularly impressive. Brown allowed 15.4 yards per completion and 10 yards per target in a 2024 season that saw him make three starts, allowing a passer rating of 124.0. In 2023, Brown had two interceptions but still allowed 13.7 yards per completion and a passer rating of 90.0.
With 13 starts over four seasons, Brown’s resume is not comprehensive, nor is it overly impressive. Still only 27, the 49ers might have reason to believe they can get more out of him this season. Yet, regardless of whether they go with Brown or with Stout, the 49ers will be taking a risky bet, either on a player with limited starting experience and questionable numbers, or on an undersized rookie whose aggressiveness they are hoping will translate to success at the highest level.
The 49ers could well end up being vindicated in their decision to take such a gamble. However, if they struggle to find an answer at third corner and Alexander excels in Baltimore, then it will be fair to question their thought process in not pursuing a defender with the ability to turn their secondary into one of the best in the league.