One of the San Francisco 49ers' emerging cornerstones on defense has been locked up and handsomely rewarded.
Deommodore Lenoir and the 49ers have agreed to terms on a five-year, $92 million extension, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday.
ESPN first reported the news.
A 2021 NFL Draft fifth-round selection, Lenoir has become a staple in San Francisco's starting lineup and has matured into a highly regarded cornerback.
Excellent in pass coverage, Lenoir has been a key to the 49ers' standing as the league's 12th-ranked defense.
Working on a $3.11 million base salary in the final season of his rookie contract, Lenoir will now make an average annual salary of $18.4 million, which would put him at 12th among cornerbacks, just below the Chicago Bears' Jaylon Johnson. He's entrenched among the higher-paid talents at his position, though, noticeably ahead of the Detroit Lions' Carlton Davis at $14.8 million per year.
As a rookie, Lenoir played in 13 games with a pair of starts, but since his second NFL season in 2022, he's played in every 49ers game and started in 39 of a possible 43 games. He's coming off the best season of his career, having posted 84 tackles, 10 pass breakups and three interceptions in 2023. Lenoir also posted eight tackles and a forced fumble in the 49ers' Super Bowl LVIII loss.
This season, the 25-year-old has recorded 53 tackles, six PBs and two picks in nine starts.
Clearly viewed as a key player in the 49ers' future, Lenoir is a burgeoning talent who's now a well-compensated one set up in San Francisco through 2028.
