Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir is looking like a pretty good draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers. The fifth-round selection has been impressive during the preseason. In 69 coverage snaps, Lenoir has been targeted just six times and allowed one reception, a nine-yard catch by Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Daurice Fountain.
Pro Football Focus has credited Lenoir with a pass defensed and an interception. Opposing quarterbacks own a passer rating of 0.0 against the rookie cornerback.
This week, Lenoir is embracing a new challenge—playing in the slot. It sounds like the coaches are happy with the defensive back's ability to adapt to the role.
"We started him there yesterday," defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans told reporters this afternoon. "His head is spinning a little bit, but he's handled it really well. One thing I like about him: He's eager to learn. He's eager to grow. When you have that type of mindset, you'll get better at anything you do, if you have the right mind for it."
Lenoir hasn't taken a snap in the slot during the preseason. Instead, the vast majority of his snaps have come on the outside. He's had the idea of lining up in the slot on his mind, though.
"I actually thought about it," Lenoir said after his preseason debut on August 14. "I was always just trying to learn it, just in case they would put me there, just being able to do everything."
Maybe he'll get his chance on Sunday afternoon against the Las Vegas Raiders.
"He's been fine in there," Ryans continued. "He's not out of place, I can tell you that. He's done a good job with the reps that he's been given, and he's made a few plays in the backfield. So, he's done a really good job there, at the slot position."
Lenoir owns an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 80.1 and a coverage grade of 80.5. Both are good enough to rank sixth overall among corners who have taken a minimum of 57 total snaps. Lenoir has taken 101 through his two outings. Nate Hobbs, a fifth-rounder by the Las Vegas Raiders, is the only rookie corner who grades higher.
Could Lenoir be the latest fifth-round gem by the 49ers, joining linebacker Dre Greenlaw in 2019 and tight end George Kittle in 2017? Could Talanoa Hufanga also be part of that conversation? The rookie safety out of USC is also making a positive impression.