Athlon Sports recently named veteran cornerback Mike Hilton as a strong free-agent option for the San Francisco 49ers, and the potential addition seems to make a lot of sense for a team that could be looking to bolster its secondary. While adding a safety might seem more logical given recent departures, the inexperience behind starter Deommodore Lenoir may prompt the 49ers to consider fortifying their cornerback group instead.
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Renardo Green showed promise as a rookie last season. Still, it's unclear if he's ready for a full-time starting workload now that Charvarius Ward has departed for the Indianapolis Colts. The competition for the third cornerback spot will be one of the most intriguing battles of training camp, with rookie Upton Stout, newcomer Tre Brown, and others vying for snaps.
Bleacher Report's Matt Holder recently supported the idea of adding Hilton, naming the 49ers as one of the three best landing spots for the veteran nickel corner, alongside the Las Vegas Raiders and Dallas Cowboys.
Of course, Holder notes that the plan for Lenoir will heavily influence any move for Hilton. Lenoir has experience both outside and in the slot, and while he's open to doing whatever the team needs, he's expressed a preference for the nickel role.
When asked if he'd be disappointed not to play nickel in 2025, Lenoir explained, "That's kind of tough because that spot is vital to the defense. Playing next to [LB] Fred [Warner], hearing all the communication, you're in the action. [Outside] corner, it's just kind of different. You're just playing on the outside. You're not really in the run game. You're involved, but you're not really involved how the nickel is."
If the 49ers plan to keep Lenoir primarily on the outside, Holder believes bringing in a player like Hilton would be a smart move.
"Lenoir made his money at slot corner over the last two years, but he may play on the boundary more in 2025 after Charvarius Ward's departure in free agency," Holder wrote. "So, there might be room for the 49ers to bring in a veteran nickel ahead of training camp."
Hilton would provide an immediate boost to a defense that struggled against the run last season. He has earned a Pro Football Focus defensive grade of 75.9 or higher in each of the past two seasons, and his 91.7 run-defense grade in 2024 was a career best, ranking him as the top defensive back in the NFL in that category. That could be key for a 49ers defense needing a reliable corner to patrol the slot, where downhill tackling and quick instincts are essential.
Hilton has played the majority of his career in the nickel spot, amassing 13 interceptions, 11.5 sacks, and 56 passes defensed across eight NFL seasons.