SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Renardo Green heard the trade rumors this offseason. Then he saw the San Francisco 49ers sign a cornerback who could push him for his starting job.
Then Green made an interesting move: He watched the newcomer, veteran Jack Jones, during offseason workouts and the first week of training camp and actually learned some things from him.
“Jack and I have had a lot of conversations,” Green said. “He’s a real savvy football player, and Jack has real good ball skills. He has a very aggressive playing style when it comes to playing the ball, and I try and pick that up.
“You should try to learn from who you can because we’re all in this together, basically.”
Jones, 28, is on his fourth team in five years, but no one questions his playmaking ability — good and bad. He started 33 games for the Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins over the past two seasons and had 22 pass breakups. He has returned half of his eight career interceptions for touchdowns.
Jones has been a standout at training camp. And one of the only players you could say has stood out more is Green, who dominated one-on-one drills on Monday.
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“He’s a great corner,” Jones said of Green. “I think he has the potential to be one of the true lockdown corners in the league, you know what I’m saying? As far as from me to him, I’ve just been trying to really tell him to go get that ball. Focus on the ball and not just PBUs.
“That’s what I am preaching. … We’re all making each other better. A guy makes a play, and that gives you an energy boost.”
Raheem Morris has been a big part of that, and Green is really enjoying his third defensive coordinator in three years. You get the sense that the 2024 second-round pick is not just saying that because it’s what people want to hear.
“It’s easier to play faster, and I feel like he’s more detailed with just, like, realistic things, and there’s a lot less thinking,” Green said. “I’ve been able to get attached to guys and contest catches, make plays. That’s what he wants, and that fits us.”
When general manager John Lynch was asked about the offseason trade rumors involving Green, he pointed at Morris.
“Raheem is really excited to work with Renardo,” Lynch said. “He sees tools that are untapped. He can be a big-time player. He hasn’t been bad by any account, but we think there’s a lot more in there.”
That was the message from coach Kyle Shanahan. The trade rumors surrounding Green stemmed from a sideline exchange during the playoff loss to the Seahawks, where Shanahan was yelling at Green for a blown coverage. Shanahan said that was a good sign — that he expects a lot from Green — and that he wouldn’t yell if he didn’t think a player had a higher ceiling.
Green said he appreciated it.
“He and I talk, and how he sees me is similar to how I see myself and what I’m capable of doing, everything I want out of this game,” Green said. “So I appreciate him for just pushing me. It gives you more confidence just to work harder, because you know that you’re not going to let yourself slack but you know he’s not going to let you slack, either.”
Morris has been impressed.
“He’s showing up in a big way,” Morris said. “He’s exciting. He’s got great length. He’s got great ball skills. He’s got all the ability in the world. It’s time to go out there and do it.”
Right now, Green is slated to line up across from Deommodore Lenoir, with Upton Stout in the slot. Lenoir said he and Green spent a lot of time together this offseason, and Green is a new man. He’s talking more and “is more confident in his craft,” Lenoir said.
“Just being able to come in, Year 3, and have the confidence to backpedal against a Hall of Fame receiver (Mike Evans) and being poised,” Lenoir added. “I think he’s taking a big step in that direction.”
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As for Jones, before he signed, he heard rave reviews about the 49ers from good friend Chase Lucas, who spent two years with the Niners before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in April.
“I love it,” Jones said. “Great energy, great, great teammates. … It’s kind of self-explanatory why this team has had the success that it has. Shoutout to Chase Lucas.”
Jones is here to compete, obviously, but he could give the 49ers some great depth while helping bring out the best in Green, Lenoir and Stout. Lenoir has eight interceptions in five seasons, but Green and Stout have one between them.
“People don’t just wake up with that ability to go get the ball,” Jones said. “It comes with film study, it comes with practice and repetition. Sometimes you got to take a million reps just to get it right one time.
“I played receiver too growing up. But I didn’t want to get thrown the ball. I wanted to go take it.”
