Why the 49ers let Emmanuel Moseley Walk in Free Agency

The 49ers are really turning a new leaf when it comes to investing in players coming off serious injuries.

Emmanuel Moseley is leaving the 49ers for the Lions.

A one-year deal for $6 million was enough to get the job done. The 49ers wanted Moseley back as general manager John Lynch indicated in his exit press conference back in early February, but the 49ers only wanted him back at their price. Clearly, $6 million is too much for them to invest for a guy coming off a torn ACL. 

That is a number that the 49ers easily could have matched and arguably would have been worth it. Moseley is a tremendous cornerback who was playing lights out in the first five games of the 2022 season before getting injured. The price to sign him, a familiar standout cornerback, seemed like a no brainer. But there is sound logic behind the 49ers' decision to let Moseley walk in free agency.

For starters, I think the 49ers are really turning a new leaf when it comes to investing in players coming off serious injuries. It is fair to question if Moseley will get back to where he is and if he can sustain a healthy form for the full length of a season. That is something he hasn't been able to do at all throughout his early. 

Moseley is a sneaky injury prone player. He always misses time. Now that he is recovering from a torn ACL, there is little to feel hopeful about him being active for a whole season. The likelihood of him missing games is always high, so mix that in with his torn ACL and you can understand the concerns with investing in Moseley.

Aside from that, Deommodore Lenoir made Moseley expendable. It was fairly ugly in his first several starts and understandably so. Lenoir was making the switch from the slot to the outside. And while outside corner is his natural position, he hadn't taken any reps there all year long. There is an acclimation process needed to get back into the thick of things. Lenoir ended up finishing the season on a strong note, especially in the playoffs. There is a lot to like with him as well as a lot to clean up.

The 49ers are fully bought into the player that he is and what he can become. The trajectory he is on is positive. In coverage he is able to stick with his man and maintain little to no separation. He just needs to get a knack for making a play on the ball, but that is a trait that only the elite ones can make. It's fine if he can't do that since he is making life for his receiver tough. Lenoir can also defend against the run well, which is crucial to play cornerback for the 49ers. Had Lenoir not finished strong, then the 49ers likely become inclined to retain Moseley. 

Besides, the Lions are surely promising Moseley a starting role, while the 49ers probably low balled him and couldn't promise him his spot back. Losing him is a bit of a sting, but the logic behind it is sound for the 49ers and an okay one.