San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir isn't shy about recruiting star defenders around the NFL. And since he's a player, he doesn't have to worry about tampering rules.
On January 19, Lenoir publicly campaigned for Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby, posting on social media that the defensive lineman would look great in red and gold. Now, he's setting his sights on frustrated Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
Garrett has officially requested a trade, expressing a desire to play for a more competitive team. While the Browns insist they have no plans to move their star pass rusher, Lenoir is making his pitch anyway—because why not?
Lenoir shared the following on social media, highlighting the nicknames of himself and several teammates, including defensive end Nick Bosa and tackle Trent Williams.
What Type of Animal you wanna be ? We got Hyenas, Bears, Lions and Gorillas @Flash_Garrett
— Deommodore lenoir (@Dmo_lenoir) February 3, 2025
Lenoir followed up on Instagram with a message to Garrett, saying, "Let's get a ring."
Deommodore Lenoir's IG story just now 💍 pic.twitter.com/ZZ40Zqv9jy
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) February 3, 2025
As the saying goes, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take," and Lenoir is certainly taking his. He's not alone in wanting Garrett in Santa Clara. When asked about the possibility of the Browns' pass rusher joining the 49ers, legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice didn't hesitate to campaign for his former team to explore the move.
"Man, that's a dog. That's a dog," Rice said Monday during a radio interview. "Hey, that's a no-brainer. If you can get that dog, you go get him because it's only going to add to that defense. And you win championships with defense.
"I don't care how potent your offense is and how many points you're putting up, you've got to be able to stop the opponent, and he would be a great part to doing that."
Pairing Bosa with Garrett would be a dream scenario for new defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who is looking to strengthen the unit after taking over for Nick Sorensen. Garrett has been one of the league's most dominant pass rushers, recording at least 14 sacks in each of the past four seasons. The only time he failed to reach double digits was in his 2017 rookie campaign.
Of course, acquiring Garrett would require a significant investment—not just in draft capital but also in salary cap space. How aggressive the 49ers will be in potential trade discussions remains to be seen. Still, there's no doubt general manager John Lynch would be intrigued by the idea of adding another elite pass rusher to his team's defense.
