Breaking down the 49ers taking Florida State CB Renardo Green at No. 64

The 49ers took a cornerback with their second selection of the 2024 NFL Draft.

The San Francisco 49ers made their second selection of the 2024 NFL Draft, taking Florida State cornerback Renardo Green with the No. 64 pick after trading back one spot with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Green, a 6’0, 186-pound receiver who put up 13 pass breakups and an interception in 2023, has a versatile background, having played outside, in the nickel, and even at safety during his collegiate career.

What kind of player is Green and what does this selection mean for the 49ers?

Green’s profile

Green is a 49ers type of cornerback; he’s a press-man corner with ultimate physicality and has the type of frame that they covet at the outside cornerback position.

In college, Green went up against the top competition, impressing against LSU’s elite core of receivers, and holding his ground against star Malik Nabers.

Now, Green ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, but doesn’t play with elite deep speed. That might be the only detractor to his game.

As a physical player, Green is able to slow receivers down by winning at the line of scrimmage as a press corner, while his agility and change of direction impress me for a player of his physical profile, allowing him to keep with receivers as they run a variety of routes.

He’s exactly what the 49ers like in a cornerback and is a willing run defender, showcasing aggressiveness in that department.

Moreover, Green’s versatility is key, as he can play a number of roles for the 49ers, similar to fellow cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, which San Francisco covets.

For the second consecutive pick, the 49ers went with a player who fits what they covet, choosing a cornerback after getting a receiver in the first round.

Evaluating the pick

For the second consecutive pick, the 49ers chose fireworks, as they traded back one spot from No. 63 with the Kansas City Chiefs, getting back No. 173 and giving up No. 211.

Now, considering the trade specifically, the 49ers got great value for a one spot move, knowing that the Chiefs were likely targeting an offensive tackle with BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia still on the board.

Following the Green selection, insider Jordan Schultz revealed that the 49ers were thinking about an offensive tackle, but their top players were off the board, hence the selection to go with the Florida State product instead.

While I would have preferred Suamataia, given the need for an offensive tackle, be it for 2024 or the future, it feels that San Francisco did not have the BYU lineman high on their board, as they allowed Kansas City to move up and grab him.

Their guy could have been Washington’s Roger Rosengarten, who was taken one spot ahead of them by the Baltimore Ravens, or a bevy of other tackles who went in the 50s.

While he wasn’t my top available player, Green is still a great choice who, once again, fits what San Francisco wants to do as they went with a BPA approach.

More importantly, there is an avenue for Green to compete early on, as he could slot in at one of the starting corner spots should he win the job in camp or even play in a multitude of roles as a reserve.

What it means for the 49ers

Cornerback was a position to watch for the 49ers heading into the draft, as all five of their top players are scheduled to be free agents following the 2024 season.

Now, San Francisco should extend one of their top players, but nonetheless, there was a need for corner in the future, and the 49ers addressed that with Green here at No. 64.

Green should be an outside cornerback in the future, solving a key issue for the 49ers and providing them some flexibility as they look into potential extensions for either Charvarius Ward or Deommodore Lenoir.

I wouldn’t be surprised if San Francisco looks to even double-dip at cornerback in the later rounds, but the choice to go with the skill position players over an offensive tackle is certainly interesting.

Now, with the depth, or lack thereof, at offensive tackle in the later portion of the draft, I thought it was intriguing that the 49ers went with a cornerback, given the depth at that position in the third round, but it’s a good sign that they chose to go best player available, rather than falling in love with a specific player or position.

With receiver and cornerback off the board, the 49ers could look to target the interior offensive line in the third round, although there should still be a ton of talent available at their next selection.

One other thing? I wouldn’t be surprised at a trade up in the third round, as the 49ers now have another asset following their trade with the Chiefs, and they have a bevy of fourth-round picks at their arsenal.