Renardo Green backs 49ers’ best secondary in years, says Donte Whitner – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

Renardo Green was a pleasant surprise in the 49ers secondary.

The rookie cornerback – selected No. 64 in the 2024 NFL Draft by Florida State – shone in San Francisco’s preseason loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night and has had an impressive training camp.

Donte Whitner, a three-season defensive back for the 49ers (2011-13), was impressed with Green and discussed with KNBR’s “Murph and Markus” on Monday how the rookie’s promise supports San Francisco’s best secondary in years.

“I think (Green) was already in,” Whitner told anchors Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher. “And with Isaac Yiadom out — because he’s the first cornerback to come in when Charvarius Ward is on one side, Deommodore Lenoir moves to the slot (and) Isaac Yiadom comes in as an outside cornerback … the next one in would be Green.”

“(Against the Saints) Green did exactly what he’s always done in training camp. He’s tenacious, athletic, physical at the line of scrimmage and finishes well with the ball in the air. I think the 49ers are in a better position than they’ve ever been since I’ve been representing them at defensive back.”

Green finished Sunday’s game with two tackles — with just a single pass reception from Chris Olave for 19 yards — in his 32 snaps as a cornerback.

He complements a restructured 49ers secondary that prefers to let Lenoir play as a nickelback and keep Ambry Thomas – who will miss some time in the 2024 NFL season due to a broken forearm – on the bench.

Green, 23, is versatile and plays both inside and outside, as he did as a Seminole, and complements what Whitner believes is the best San Francisco secondary in quite some time, along with Lenoir, Ward and safeties Ji’Ayir Brown and Talanoa Hufanga.

“With the length (and) depth that (the 49ers) have, I think they’re going to be in pretty good shape,” Whitner added. “They can play five (or) six players deep and take on any offensive weapon in the NFL.”

The 49ers’ secondary should be in even better shape with new additions, new roles, players returning from injury and new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen replacing Thomas, defensive back Tashaun Gipson and former DC Steve Wilks.

Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast