The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly agreed to terms with former South Alabama cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. on his rookie four-year deal, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston. The team made him the 20th pick (No. 155 overall) in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
#49ers agree to terms with fifth-round corner Darrell Luter Jr., per a league source
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 10, 2023
Luter registered 42 tackles, 0.5 tackles for a loss, seven passes defensed, and an interception through 13 game appearances as a senior in 2022, per Sports Reference. He recorded 91 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, 18 passes defensed, five interceptions, and a forced fumble through his three collegiate seasons.
"Honestly, I'm very versatile," Luter told reporters after being drafted. "I play both nickel and outside corner, so, I mean, I can play both. Of course, I have had majority of my career being outside, but I've also been reintroduced a couple of times back at Nickel since high school, so I can play both positions. It doesn't matter which one, as long as I'm able to help out the team in any way."
The total value of Luter's four-year contract is $4,153,512, per OverTheCap.com. That includes a signing bonus of $313,512 and a 2023 salary-cap figure of $828,378.
Thanks to the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which runs through the 2030 season, all rookie contracts are for a length of four years. First-round selections come with an option for a fifth year, which doesn't apply to any of the 49ers' nine draft selections.
"Long-limbed press-cover cornerback with the ball skills and physicality to challenge receivers outside the numbers," Lance Zierlein wrote within the player's NFL.com scouting report, comparing Luter to Christian Benford. "Luter can be a little leggy in his transitions and burst to the football, but his length helps make up for that and creates pass breakups. Louisiana-Monroe attacked him with back-shoulder throws all game, which is something to keep an eye on in the pros. He's going to be more effective in press-and-shadow coverage than he is playing Cover 3 or off-man. His ball production dipped in 2022, but his length and playing style fit the NFL game."
