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Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine recently highlighted cornerback as one of the San Francisco 49ers' top remaining needs heading into the 2025 NFL season. Naturally, he identified it as the most important position battle to watch when training camp kicks off in late July.
Replacing former starter Charvarius Ward, now with the Indianapolis Colts, won't be easy. However, second-year cornerback Renardo Green appears ready to step up opposite Deommodore Lenoir after a strong finish to his rookie campaign.
"Things will get interesting in the nickel spot, especially because the Niners aren't exactly solid at linebacker either," Ballentine wrote. "[Bleacher Report] scout Cory Giddings praised third-round pick Upton Stout as a player with the potential to be a 'dynamic nickel defender with additional value as a blitzer.'"
Many analysts believed the 49ers might target a cornerback with their first-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Instead, they bolstered their defensive front by selecting edge rusher Mykel Williams with the No. 11 overall pick.
Stout was the only cornerback drafted by the 49ers and one of just two defensive backs selected overall, joining fifth-round safety Marques Sigle out of Kansas State.
"However, [Stout is] only 5'9", 181 pounds, so he'll need to show he can overcome his lack of size to show he's the best option," Ballentine added. "Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh could also slide Deommodore Lenoir inside and play Tre Brown or Darrell Luter Jr. on the outside if Stout isn't ready."
Top summer breakout candidate
Ballentine also named wide receiver Ricky Pearsall as San Francisco's top breakout candidate for the summer.
"Ricky Pearsall had a mini-breakout over the final two weeks of the season last year," Ballentine noted. "He racked up 14 catches for 210 yards and two touchdowns to give the Niners a bit of hope at the end of a tough season.
The second-year receiver is well-positioned to build on that momentum. With Deebo Samuel gone and Brandon Aiyuk still recovering from ACL and MCL injuries, Pearsall will see an expanded role.
"It would be great to see fellow second-year receiver Jacob Cowing generate some buzz, but he only had four catches last season," Ballentine commented.
While Pearsall is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, he is expected to return in time for training camp. The 49ers have no long-term concerns about his health. They are holding him out of organized team activities (OTAs) and the upcoming mandatory minicamp purely out of an abundance of caution.
"Pearsall should be developing chemistry with Brock Purdy, and there's a good chance he's going to test the corners who are trying to win a job," Ballentine concluded.
More must-reads:
- Standout performances from Week 1 of NFL preseason: Rookie, backup QBs shine
- Another positive update emerges on Lions player who was hospitalized
- The 'NFL Defensive Players of the Year ' quiz
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Green Bay Packers Veteran WR In Danger Of Being Cut After Poor Showing Against Jets
A veteran Green Bay Packers wide receiver didn’t leave a good impression on head coach Matt LaFleur’s coaching staff on Saturday when he took on his old team in front of 71,501 fans at Lambeau Field on Saturday night. Mecole Hardman, who has had flashes of being a strong contributor to the Packers during training camp, struggled in the Packers’ 30-10 loss to the New York Jets. The 2019 second-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs dropped his only target of the night and made a poor decision as a punt returner on special teams before muffing a punt on his second punt return opportunity. The Green Bay Packers coaching staff has a decision to make Matt Schneidman of The Athletic suggested that Hardman’s performance will prompt the Packers’ coaching staff to reevaluate the receiver depth chart. “Hardman, too, seemed penciled into the 53-man roster before Saturday night,” Schneidman wrote. “For a player who probably wasn’t slated to contribute much as a wide receiver come the regular season but still provided value because of his return experience, the preseason opener was a disaster. “Hardman fielded a punt on the fly at his 5-yard line (that’s a no-no) with a Jet and two Packers nearby and was tackled immediately for no gain by the Jets’ Qwan’tez Stiggers after he beat Packers rookie seventh-round cornerback Micah Robinson.” “I made two bad decisions, so that’s on me,” Hardman told reporters after the game. Hardman wasn’t the only Packers receiver to have issues against the Jets, as an issue from 2024, dropped passes, continued to plague the offense in their first preseason game of 2025. It’s an issue Hardman and the team will want to show improvement on when they play the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.
Commanders' signing of former third-round pick shows their opinions on the position group, and might foreshadow a current injury
Washington Commanders HC Dan Quinn spoke with the media before practice today and continued to express his displeasure with the team's results in their blowout loss on Friday night. He spoke about the depth he likes on the team, but also hinted at some positions that could use some help. Quinn also said that the team would be working out a handful of players following practice today, and that they are always willing to improve the team where it's possible. Well, the Commanders signed a player today following the workouts that could hint at what Quinn was talking about, and more. Commanders sign former third-round pick The Commanders are signing a former third-round pick in LB Duke Riley, who was actually drafted by the Atlanta Falcons when Dan Quinn was the head coach there. This signing comes after the Commanders worked out 14 players after practice today, which contained seven linebackers and no wide receivers. After the performance we saw in the first preseason game on defense and special teams, these workouts shouldn't be surprising though. Riley was a starting linebacker in Atlanta when he was drafted in 2017, and eventually landed in Miami in 2021, where he has been a rotational linebacker and special-teams defender. That tells me a lot about what they saw on film after watching the first preseason game. Could the writing be on the wall? This immediately raises two flags for me: who would he replace on special teams, and what does this mean for the health of another linebacker? When you go back and watch the film, Dominique Hampton did not look good at all at his new linebacker position, and I don't have him making the active roster. The team also drafted Kain Medrano, who is listed as a linebacker on the depth chart by the team. Other than that, the Commanders have no true depth at linebacker. You have a special-teams ace who can't play linebacker, and a linebacker who can't play special teams. That's not a good combo for roster cuts. Veteran Nick Bellore has been an outstanding special-teams player, but could his lack of ability at linebacker cost the 36-year-old? Hopeful second-round linebacker Jordan Magee has so much potential, but he's already dealing with an undisclosed injury after playing only 16 snaps in his rookie season due to injuries. Signing Riley, who can rotate at linebacker and be a key special-teams piece, means that the team either doesn't like what they saw on film with special teams, or they aren't sure if Magee can stay healthy. Either way, this signing is filling in two major needs right now.
Warriors Take Strong Stance on Jonathan Kuminga Trade
The Golden State Warriors want free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga to agree to the contract they offered this summer. The last deal the Warriors presented to the young forward was a two-year $45 million contract. However, Kuminga still declined it and insists on his desire to have at least a $30 million salary per season. The Warriors want to move on from Kuminga. By giving him a team-friendly contract, they believe it'll be easier to facilitate a sign-and-trade. However, the 22-year-old wants to have a bigger deal than what Golden State has offered. Most people think it's because of the contract extensions that his fellow 2021 draftees have signed with their teams. For example, Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs signed a five-year, $150 million extension. Another player who has had a better deal with their team was Franz Wagner. Wagner signed a five-year, $224 million extension with the Magic and was drafted after Kuminga. The Warriors Are Putting Their Foot Down Kuminga has not received a fresh offer from the Warriors, and it appears that it will remain the same. NBA insider Jake Fischer of "The Stein Line" revealed that the organization isn't looking forward to making any amendments to their two-year deal for the forward. "But Golden State, sources say, is not open to amending its stance on the second year of the two-year, $45 million offer it has extended to the 22-year-old swingman. The Warriors are insistent that Year 2 is a team option; Kuminga would naturally prefer a player option," Fischer wrote. There's a stalemate between the two sides, as they both want what's best for their current situation. Kuminga believes in his talent and wants to earn like a starter. Fischer added that the current state might extend until September. This gives the 6-foot-8 forward less time to decide what his next step should be. The Warriors would still prefer that Kuminga accepts the offer, to make it easier for them to make a trade. "The sides thus remain locked into a staring contest that some well-placed observers believe could drag into September at this rate. Kuminga has until Oct. 1 to accept his $8 million qualifying offer for the 2025-26 season and bet on himself to capitalize once he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer." Kuminga is rumored to be part of a trade that would allow the Warriors to acquire guard-forward Josh Giddey.
Cowboys exec has blunt message about Micah Parsons' trade request
The Dallas Cowboys have not been able to come to an agreement with Micah Parsons on a long-term contract extension, but that does not mean the team has any plans to shop the star pass-rusher in trade talks. Parsons, who is making just over $24M in the final year of his rookie contract this season, publicly requested a trade from the Cowboys on Aug. 1. There have now been questions about whether he will report to work before Week 1. While Parsons has refused to practice in training camp, he traveled to Los Angeles with the Cowboys for their preseason game against the Rams on Saturday night. Before kickoff, Dallas executive vice president Stephen Jones said he was pleased with Parsons' decision to join the team. Jones also said the Cowboys "have no intention of trading Micah." It is a positive sign for the Cowboys that Parsons chose to be on the sideline for Saturday's exhibition game. The 26-year-old has also been with his teammates at training camp, though he has not been practicing. From a contractual standpoint, Parsons has very little leverage. He would have to forfeit game checks if he were to skip regular-season games, and his contract would eventually toll and carry over into 2026 if he were to sit out long enough. The Cowboys also still have the franchise tag available to use on Parsons in both 2026 and 2027. All Parsons can do is create a headache for the Cowboys, which has been a successful strategy for many players in the past. For what it's worth, a different Dallas star who had a contract standoff with the team last year believes the situation will eventually be resolved. Jones and his father, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, have made it clear that they will not entertain trade offers at this time. Parsons had 12 sacks in 13 games last season, so there is no question the team is better with him on the field. He has 52.5 sacks in 63 career games and is arguably the best pass-rusher in the NFL when healthy.
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