SANTA CLARA — As a rookie cornerback, Deommodore Lenoir helped cost the 49ers their last practice of rookie camp because he inadvertently posted video of himself on social media jamming a receiver too aggressively during a non-contact practice.
A fifth-round draft pick out of Oregon, Lenoir saw the clip actually made SportsCenter and was instantly worried about his fate.
“I was like, `This is bad. I might be cut,’ ” Lenoir said Wednesday on the occasion of signing a five-year contract extension reportedly worth a maximum of $92 million.
Lenoir remembers then assistant Cory Undlin asking him why he’d posted it, and Lenoir said he didn’t realize he had. Five minutes later Undlin called him back and said, `You’re good.’ “
The 49ers were stripped of their last practice of the May session, and later the organization was hit with a $100,000 fine and Shanahan himself was docked $50,000 for too much contact in organized team activities.
As far as Shanahan is concerned, it was Lenoir who got him fined. At least that’s what he tells him.
“First time I ever got mad at him,” Shanahan said. “But I was really excited about it despite that it took away from my kid’s college tuition. . It showed we had the right kind of dude. He’s always been like that.”
After an inconsistent rookie season in 2021, Lenoir took a big leap in his second season and for the past two years has been a standout at both nickel corner and as an outside cornerback. Still only 25, Lenoir is physical enough at 5-foot-10, 200 pounds to mix it up with linebackers and athletic enough to cover the NFL’s top receivers.
“He’s exactly what we want as a Niner,” Shanahan said. “The style of play, how good he’s become, just how much he loves football . . . he’s the same dude every day. I know we were pumped, the guys were pumped. It’s huge.”
Born as the ninth child in a family of 12, Lenoir said he was overtaken by emotion when he learned a deal had been struck Tuesday night.
“I burst into tears,” Lenoir said. “I’m finally able to change my family’s life for generations so it’s a blessing.”
Hoping to be a Day 2 draft selection, Lenoir lasted into Day 3 and the fifth round until he saw an area code pop up on his phone he was not familiar with. It was John Lynch, calling Lenoir to tell him he was a 49er.
“There was a 408 number calling,” Lenoir said. “I didn’t know which team it was because I thought the 49ers were in San Francisco.”
Defensive end Nick Bosa, himself a recipient of the 49ers’ financial largesse before the 2023 season (five years, $170 million), said recently he considered Lenoir somewhat of an “airhead” at first but quickly became a fan.
“Sometimes rookies, you need to tell ’em a few times to get things right,” Bosa said. “The generations below you you kind of laugh at sometimes. But he’s great and he’s matured a lot.”
Said linebacker Fred Warner: “Being lock down on the outside and being able to get it done on the inside is something you don’t see a lot in the NFL and so he’s getting paid like it.”
Lenoir saw no reason to wait as Bosa and Brandon Aiyuk did to wring every dollar out of a negotiation. He was born and raised in Los Angeles.
“I’ve been a West Coast guy my whole life,” Lenoir said. “The camaraderie within the team, the players, my brothers, my family, I knew it was a place I could see myself long term.”
The biggest offseason expense will be quarterback Brock Purdy, who still has one year and $1.1 million left on his original rookie deal as the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. He won’t be playing out his deal any more than Nick Bosa and Brandon Aiyuk did before receiving lucrative extensions.
Eligible to receive a contract extension for the first time, Purdy’s pay will go from a salary of $985,000 this year to more than $50 million for season.
Guard Aaron Banks (65) is scheduled for unrestricted free agency after his 2024 contract expires. Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group
49ERS NOT UNDER CONTRACT IN 2025
LG Aaron Banks: Second-round draft pick is making $3.066 million in the final year of his 2021 rookie deal.
CB Charvarius Ward: Reaches a void year next year and re-enters the market after signing three-year, $40.5 million in 2022.
LB Dre Greenlaw: Whenever the clock starts for Greenlaw to get back in action after tearing an Achilles in Super Bowl LVIII, he’ll be watched closely for the burst that earned him a two-year, $16.4 million extension before the 2023 season.
S Talanoa Hufanga: Making $4.95 million in last year of rookie deal. If Hufanga (wrist) doesn’t play return this season he’ll have played in 12 of the 49ers’ last 34 games.
LB De’Vondre Campbell: Signed to a one-year deal worth $5 million because of Greenlaw’s injury. Coming off his two best games after a rough start.
Others: CB Isaac Yiadom, QB Brandon Allen, CB Rock Ya-Sin, G Jon Feliciano, CB Ambry Thomas, RB Elijah Mitchell, LB Curtis Robinson.
WARD’S RETURN
Cornerback Charvarius Ward is getting closer to returning following the death last week of his 23-month-old daughter Amani Joi, although Shanahan did not have a specific timetable.
“He’s told us sooner than later and hopefully he’ll be in a a good place to come back,” Shanahan said.
Lenoir said he communicated with Ward once his deal was reached.
“I talked to Mooney, I talked to him last night. He was excited for me,” Lenoir said. “I was telling him can’t wait to have him back so we can get this thing on the road. He was in good spirits, he was happy for me.”
BOSA, KITTLE, INJURIES
Bosa (hip) and tight end George Kittle (hamstring) were among those who did not practice Wednesday. Bosa said the injury limited him against Tampa Bay but he hopes to be good to go by the end of the week. Shanahan said he wasn’t overly concerned about either in terms of availability to face Seattle Sunday.
Also not practicing were punter Mitch Wisnowsky (back), Ward (bereavement), tackle Trent Williams (ankle/rest) and tackle Kevin Givens (groin). Wide receiver Chris Conley (hamstring) was limited, as were guard Jon Feliciano (knee) and Christian McCaffrey (Achilles).
Shanahan said McCaffrey suffered no setbacks after playing 56 of 64 snaps against Tampa Bay and that the “limited” designation was simply one of maintenance.
PUNTER INSURANCE
The 49ers signed punter Pat O’Donnell to practice squad while Wishnowsky deals with a back injury.
O’Donnell is nine-year veteran who kicked eight seasons for the Chicago Bears and last worked for the 2022 Green Bay Packers; he has a career average of 39.2 net yards per punt, which is better than Wishnowsky’s career-low mark this season of 36.3.
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Wishnowsky ranks 31st in NFL with just 31 punts, but 11 of them pinned inside 20 (one blocked; no touchbacks).
The 49ers also signed running back Patrick Taylor Jr. to the practice squad and released running back KeShawn Vaughn. Taylor was waived to make room for Christian McCaffrey. Taylor has played in eight games and has seven carries for 25 yards and has 77 snaps on special teams.
Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill was released to make room for O’Donnell.