Which Departed Free Agent Will Sting the 49ers the Most?

It just isn't possible to match every contract that these free agents are getting from other teams.

The 49ers have lost quite the slew of players in free agency.

Some players will be missed, while others will be easily forgotten. It just isn't possible to match every contract that these free agents are getting from other teams. Still, it does not change the fact that there is going to be a free agent(s) that the 49ers end up feeling a sting due to their departure. 

So, which departed free agent will sting the 49ers most?

It has to be Emmanuel Moseley. Look, I have no issue with the 49ers letting Moseley walk. There is some sense to it. He's coming off a torn ACL, so there is concern if he can return to the high-level that he was on in his five games played in 2022. Deommodore Lenoir also convinced the 49ers that he is a capable starting cornerback whose arrow is pointing up. The defense didn't really drop-off when he took over the starting role the rest of the way. John Lynch even categorized Lenoir's season as a "breakout" one, so that shows how highly they think of Lenoir. The 49ers have to see if they can continue to help him build upon his "breakout" season. 

With that said, Moseley is the free agent where the 49ers can look back on in the middle of the season and be kicking themselves. It is a risk to hand Lenoir the starting job despite the solid season he had. If Moseley has little to no ailments from his recover ACL, then he is a better player than Lenoir. Moseley will end up looking incredible with the Lions, which at that point the 49ers better hope Lenoir is playing well too. 

Otherwise, the 49ers will look like fools for letting Moseley walk all because they didn't want to match or slightly raise the one-year, $6 million deal the Lions gave him. Of course, Moseley could have already had it set that he was leaving, but I'm willing to bet that the 49ers lowballed him since he is coming off a significant injury. It is a departure that can certainly sting the 49ers and possibly haunt them. 

At the very least, Lenoir just has to play well. He cannot be getting burnt consistently, whiffing tackles, and getting penalized. This will ensure that letting Moseley walk wasn't a failure by the 49ers. Good cornerbacks are hard to come by. Charvarius Ward is one constant that doesn't create worry, while Lenoir still is a bit of a variable. Ascension in 2023 is going to be pivotal for him and the 49ers.