PFF sees big potential in a pair of 49ers youngsters

The San Francisco 49ers didn't prioritize the secondary early in the 2025 NFL Draft, waiting until the third round to select Western Kentucky cornerback Upton Stout. That left many wondering if the team had done enough to fill the void left by All-Pro Charvarius Ward, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts in free agency.

However, according to Pro Football Focus analyst Jonathon Macri, the 49ers may already have Ward's successor in-house.

In his list of breakout candidates for all 32 NFL teams, Macri singled out Renardo Green as San Francisco's player to watch. The second-year cornerback, a second-round pick in 2024, showed flashes of potential last season and could be the solution for Ward's replacement.

"Green took on a larger role in the latter half of his rookie season, filling in for Charvarius Ward most often, which he'll now have to do on a permanent basis," Macri explained. "Green earned a 74.3 coverage grade and posted a 15.7% forced incompletion rate – both of which were top-20 marks at the position."

Green appeared in all 17 games, logging seven starts. He finished his rookie campaign with 61 tackles, one interception, 13 passes defensed, and a forced fumble. His 74.3 PFF coverage grade ranked third among all rookie cornerbacks in 2024.

"With no significant competition brought in this offseason to help alleviate the Ward loss on the outside, there is at least some perceived confidence that the 2024 second-rounder can continue his strong play on a full-time basis," Macri added.

On the offensive side of the ball, Dominick Puni also earns high praise from PFF. Contributor Dalton Wasserman recently identified young players who could soon become the NFL's best at their respective positions. Puni made the shortlist after an impressive rookie season at right guard.

"Puni was a revelation for the 49ers last season, finishing with the sixth-best overall grade among qualified guards at 80.5," Wasserman wrote. "A major factor in that success was his effectiveness in Kyle Shanahan's outside zone scheme — his 82.1 outside zone run-blocking grade ranked fifth among all guards."

Puni, a third-round pick out of Kansas, was thrust into the starting lineup early due to injuries and never looked back. He played every offensive snap (1,078 total) across all 17 games, and his PFF offensive grade led all rookie offensive linemen. He was also the highest-graded run-blocker among first-year linemen.

"With another year of development in Shanahan's system, both as a run blocker and pass protector, Puni could soon challenge for the top spot at the position," Wasserman added. "Atlanta's Chris Lindstrom has held that title for the past three seasons as the NFL's highest-graded guard. It won't be easy to unseat him, but if any young player is positioned to do it, it might be Puni."

With Green and Puni showing promise on opposite sides of the ball, the 49ers may have found a pair of foundational pieces as they look to rebound from a disappointing six-win season.