San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Green (0) is looking for big things after struggling some last season as a second-year player.
Jeff Chiu/AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
Chewed out by his head coach on national television, named in trade rumors, and publicly challenged by his general manager, Renardo Green endured an offseason of undesirable headlines. Last year was his first as a full-time starting cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers. With that comes attention or scrutiny, depending on how you do.
“The biggest lesson I probably learned is just take accountability, even when it’s not your fault,” said Green, asked what the NFL has taught him so far. “No matter who it is, the media, anybody, a player, whoever may be pointing the finger at you, just approach it how you would in real life.”
Green was benched briefly in the 49ers’ 41-6 divisional round loss to the Seahawks, the worst playoff defeat for the franchise since 1987. He did not drop deep enough to cover Cooper Kupp on a 21-yard catch that converted a 2nd-and-20. Kyle Shanahan yanked him and got in his ear, while Green watched the Seahawks from the sideline as they extended their lead to 17-0 on a touchdown play that targeted his backup.
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Trade speculation followed him for months after that. John Lynch eventually put the rumors to rest during league meetings in March, but the GM still spelled out dissatisfaction with the 2024 second-round pick.
“We do need him to play better,” Lynch said. “I think he can be a big-time player. We did when we drafted him. He hasn’t been bad by any account, but we think there’s more in there.”
In training camp, from running with future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans stride for stride, to dominating his 1-on-1 reps, Green has played with the same confidence he entered the league with.
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It may be more easily forgotten after a very visible playoff miscue, but Green had previously set a franchise record for pass breakups by a rookie with 13, despite his being only a part-time starter. He logged 675 defensive snaps in seven starts and 17 total appearances. Pro Football Focus assigned him a 74.3 coverage grade, which in 2024 ranked 16th among 117 eligible cornerbacks. His second-season grade dropped considerably, down to 52.9 or 93rd out of 114.
“I’ve been playing football since I was 5 so I’ve always felt like I could play ball off just natural instincts, off reading and reacting,” Green said, “but when I can come out there now and tell you what formation they in and see double chippers (two eligible receivers throwing chip blocks) and know he’s only (going to) run three routes, it make the game that much” easier.
Green is looking to put his sophomore slump behind him with help from new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who used to be a defensive backs coach early in his NFL coaching career. Green credited Morris with allowing him to play faster under a more aggressive approach.
Morris said of the changes, “It’s hard to say without giving away all of Renardo’s secrets, but having such a DB background, you’re able to relate to those guys and what’s important. … This whole league is based on those guys making plays. Nobody cares if you go out there and cover a guy and they don’t get a catch. … He’s found ways to make some significant plays throughout camp and throughout the offseason.”
Green is quieter than most. So when his outreach increased this offseason with Deommodore Lenoir — the cornerback starting opposite him — the pair grew closer.
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“We actually got tighter this offseason just with him actually wanting to open up and communicate,” said Lenoir, who did not have much to say early in his career, either. He saw some of himself in Green.
Lenoir had to wait to cash in with his $92 million extension, signed midway through the last year of his four-year rookie deal. But everyone in the league knows that a big third season is telling in terms of market value.
Meaning that Green has an important season ahead of him.
“We’re really excited, I can tell you, Raheem is extremely excited to work with Renardo,” Lynch said. “He sees a lot of tools that are kind of untapped, and some of that’s on Renardo.”