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The San Francisco 49ers have high expectations in 2026.
The team has one of the best rosters in the NFC on paper, and returns most of its key players from 2025. It was disappointing how the Niners went out in the playoffs last year, losing in a blowout to the eventual champion Seattle Seahawks.
The hope is that this year will be different, and the team will finally be able to get over that postseason hump. If that's going to happen, though, the 49ers are going to need everybody's best performances. As a result, it's now being reported that one key starter is at risk of losing his spot ahead of training camp.
Renardo Green on 'hot seat' ahead of Week 1
Renard Green was drafted by the Niners in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Green started seven games as a rookie, but stepped into a bigger role, earning 14 starts in 2026.
The results were mixed. Green ended with a 53.6 overall Pro Football Focus grade, which ranked 93rd out of 114 qualified corners. As a result, the Niners added some competition this offseason, like Jack Jones, Nate Hobbs, and rookie Ephesians Prysock.
Now, due to that added competition, Green's job could be at risk. Green will go into training camp “on the hot seat,” per Cam Inman of the Mercury News. Inman also noted that Green's struggles last season "frustrated coaches." For what it's worth, Kyle Shanahan was seen giving Green an earful during that playoff loss.
Connor Byrne of Pro Football Rumors recently added his own insight to the Green situation.
"Considering the significant investment they made in Green a couple years ago, it would be ideal for the 49ers if he keeps his starting job and emerges as a ball hawk in 2026," Byrne explained. "That would go a long way in helping San Francisco improve on last year’s paltry INT total (six), which tied for the second-fewest in the league."
As Byrne mentioned, the 49ers did use a high draft pick on Green, so it would be ideal if he could get back on track. It would be surprising if Green were to be cut this offseason, but it won't be surprising to see him moved behind one of the veterans.
Either way, the 49ers' secondary has to be better in 2026. Only one team came down with fewer interceptions than San Francisco in 2025, which is not ideal. Despite that, the team focused on marginal improvements rather than splashy additions, which seems to imply there's still some belief in Green to develop.
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