Emmanuel Moseley is Leaving the 49ers to Sign With the Lions

Losing cornerback Emmanuel Moseley is a big sting for the 49ers.

Well this is a bit of a sting for the San Francisco 49ers.

Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley is leaving the 49ers to sign a one-year deal for $6 million with the Detroit Lions. Moseley is currently working his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 5 of 2022 against the Carolina Panthers. 

Former 49ers’ CB Emmanuel Moseley reached agreement with the Lions today on a one-year, $6 million deal, per source. The deal was confirmed and negotiated by Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2023

General manager John Lynch made it clear at his exit press conference back in early February that the 49ers would like him back. 

"He's a guy we'd have interest in bringing back because of the way he plays, but also what he stands for. He's one of us and we'd sure like to have him back.” 

It looks like it wasn't meant to be. I would guess that the $6 million was too much for the 49ers to stomach. Considering the ascension of Deommodore Lenoir, it made Moseley expendable. Moseley was a great cornerback for the five games he played last year and his trajectory was pointing up, but the 49ers have to be real with themselves and acknowledge he is coming off a severe injury. 

Investing that much money on a player who they have no idea if he will be what he once was isn't wise business. Maybe if Lenoir didn't breakout towards the second half of the season, then that is where I could see the 49ers trying harder to bring Moseley back. But it is clear that the number he was offered by the Lions wasn't something they were willing to match. Moseley has been with the 49ers since 2018 and has provided excellent performances on the defense. 

The starting cornerbacks in 2023 look to be Charvarius Ward, Lenoir, and in the slot it could be Samuel Womack.