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Pro Football Focus (PFF) wasn't particularly impressed with San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir's 2025 season. The veteran earned a 60.3 overall defensive grade from the analytics site—his lowest since his rookie campaign. His 65.7 coverage grade marked his lowest over the past three seasons, while his 46.7 tackling grade was a career worst.
Despite injuries to key contributors and inconsistent play from parts of the defense, the 49ers finished the season with a playoff berth.
According to PFF, San Francisco ranked 31st in defensive success rate but still defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round before falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round.
PFF's Bradley Locker included Lenoir among 10 "make-or-break" players for NFL contenders, arguing that the cornerback's performance could play a significant role in determining the 49ers' ceiling in 2026.
"The fifth-year corner led San Francisco in defensive snaps, although he deviated from the strong form we've seen in the past," Locker wrote. "Lenoir's 65.7 PFF coverage grade sat in the 62nd percentile, but his 99.8 passer rating when targeted was the 20th-highest among qualified corners, and he finished in the 51st percentile in coverage at outside corner."
Locker also pointed to Lenoir's career-high 10 penalties and career-low 44.3 run-defense grade as additional areas of concern.
According to PFF, the 49ers' trio of Lenoir, Renardo Green, and Upton Stout ranks 28th among the NFL's cornerback groups. The unit also finished 25th in PFF's overall coverage grades.
Still, there are reasons for optimism. A healthier front seven should make life easier for the 49ers' secondary, potentially allowing the cornerback group to produce stronger results in 2026.
"Lenoir and the rest of San Francisco's defense will benefit from the returns of Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and Dre Greenlaw, plus hiring Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator," Locker added. "However, the onus is also on Lenoir to individually improve if the 49ers want to get back to, and even win, the Super Bowl."
With more talent and better health surrounding him, 2026 could provide the ideal opportunity for Lenoir to bounce back in PFF's eyes.
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