The 49ers offense ranked 8th in yards allowed and 3rd in points allowed last season. Here are the players who are projected to start on defense in 2024.
Defensive end: Nick Bosa.
Can Nick Bosa play more than 75 percent of the defense's snaps this season? The 49ers need more out of him for what they pay him.
Defensive tackle: Javon Hargrave.
This could be Hargrave's final season on the team if he doesn't start living up to his lucrative contract.
Defensive tackle: Maliek Collins.
Collins will replace Arik Armstead and split time with Jordan Elliott, who replaces Javon Kinlaw.
Defensive end: Yetur Gross-Matos.
Leonard Floyd will play on passing downs such as second and long or third and anything. But the 49ers run defense is a problem and Gross-Matos is objectively better against the run than Floyd, so Gross-Matos should start.
Linebacker: De'Vondre Campbell.
Dre Greenlaw will start once he returns from a torn Achilles midseason. Until then, Campbell will see if he can hold off second-year linebacker Dee Winters who played well in OTAs and minicamp.
Linebacker: Fred Warner.
He's the best player on the defense and he has missed just one game in his entire career.
Cornerback: Charvarius Ward.
He's the most underrated player on the defense and he's entering the final season of his contract. The 49ers should give him an extension. He's a top 5 cornerback in the NFL.
Cornerback: Deommodore Lenoir.
He also is entering the final season of his contract and he probably won't get extended because the 49ers can't pay everybody.
Nickelback: Renardo Green.
The 49ers wanted Isaiah Oliver to be their nickelback last year, but he failed and Lenoir was forced to replace him. The 49ers' first choice seems to be to dedicate one player to the nickel spot, and this season that player will be rookie Renardo Green who played extremely well in OTAs and minicamp.
Safety: Ji'Ayir Brown.
He intercepted Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl and seems to have a bright future.
Safety: Talanoa Hufanga.
He tore his ACL last season but should be ready to start Week 1. If he returns to his pre-injury form, he could become too expensive for the 49ers to re-sign him next year.
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