Will 49ers CB Renardo Green Start in the Nickel Defense?

This year the 49ers drafted mostly for 2025, but one rookie has a better chance than the others to start in 2024, and that's cornerback Renardo Green.

The 49ers traded down one spot to take Green with the final pick in Round 2. He didn't appear to be their first choice. It seemed they were waiting to take offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten, but the Ravens took him one spot ahead of the 49ers, and so the 49ers traded down and took a corner in Round 2 for the first time since 2004.

Green is not a developmental prospect -- he'll turn 24 in November. So theoretically he should be ready to contribute if the 49ers need him to. And the 49ers need him to.

Cornerback was one of the 49ers' biggest needs heading into the draft. They currently have only two good ones -- Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir -- and both will be free agents next year. Behind them, the 49ers have nothing but question marks.

Last year, the 49ers no. 3 cornerback in their nickel defense was Isaiah Oliver, who no longer is on the team. He quickly got replaced by Ambry Thomas, who eventually got replaced by Logan Thomas, who just retired. So that no. 3 cornerback job is wide open.

This offseason, the 49ers signed veteran Isaac Yiadom, who had a solid season last year as the no. 3 cornerback for the Saints. But the season before that, he was a special teams player for the Packers. And now he's on his fifth team. So he's no lock to start.

If Green is what the 49ers think he is, he'll play right away, either in the slot or outside when the 49ers use three corners.