The San Francisco 49ers are trying to sort out their secondary before the preseason clock runs out, and one recent evaluation didn’t exactly sugarcoat the situation.
Athlon Sports analyst Bryce Lazenby took a hard look at the biggest questions facing every position on the roster, and the defensive backfield came out as one of the clearest areas still searching for answers. The 49ers have options, but the challenge now is lining up the right five defensive backs - nickel included - and getting the group settled in time to matter.
At cornerback, Lazenby pointed directly at Renardo Green and the pressure attached to his next step.
“Renardo Green was not great in 2025, so 2026 is considered a make-or-break season. The 49ers added veterans Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs this offseason to push the young corner.
So far, Green has responded to the challenge. Green has easily been better than Jones and Hobbs this summer and is on track to keep his job.
Can he hold it for the entire season? Better yet, can he take a step and form a lockdown duo with Deommodore Lenoir?”
That battle matters because the 49ers did bring in Jones and Hobbs to apply pressure, but Green has answered with a strong summer and appears positioned to hang onto the role. The bigger question now is whether he can keep it and elevate his game over the course of the season.
Safety is just as unsettled. Lazenby said Ji’Ayir Brown has been the standout of the group this summer, while Malik Mustapha and Marques Sigle have split first-team work. Mustapha, though, is now dealing with a hamstring injury.
“Ji’Ayir Brown has easily been the best safety on the 49ers this summer. Malik Mustapha and Marques Sigle had been sharing first-team reps this summer, but Mustapha is now dealing with a hamstring injury.
Neither Mustapha nor Sigle were that great in 2025 anyway, so the free safety spot is a big question. If Mustapha's injury is more serious than initially thought, perhaps the team will look outside for a safety.”
That leaves the 49ers with a secondary that has talent, but also enough uncertainty to keep the conversation open. Injuries and uneven play could cap what the unit can become, even if it doesn’t look like a disaster waiting to happen.
For now, San Francisco is focused on finding the best version of its back end before Week 1, when the team opens against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia.
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