The San Francisco 49ers have had several players named to the Pro Bowl, but that doesn’t mean Deommodore Lenoir is happy with his selection.
It has not been a banner year for the 49ers, who are now 6-10 and heading into the last week of the season with nothing to play for. However, they have a fleet of players who are Pro Bowl bound, which include alternates like Lenoir.
But despite receiving the honor of alternate, Lenoir believes it’s a crime that he isn’t first up.
“Highway Robbery Smh,” Lenoir commented on an Instagram post from the team.
He also took to his Instagram story to add his take, which is that popularity and draft status mean more than quality of play.
“This wild,” Lenoir wrote, before speaking his peace on X. ““Are we Watching Film or going off names s—t not close… Don’t ever let them tell you Draft status don’t matter.”
Lenoir has become one of the Niners’ top defenders over the past few seasons, but isn’t quite a “household name.” But with his new contract and continued production, that will probably change soon.
Lenoir Gets Paid After Breaking Out
Lenoir had to wait his turn to get on the field, but it didn’t take him long to impress in San Francisco. The 25-year-old corner was a fifth-round draft pick out of Oregon in the 2021 NFL draft, but was starting the majority of games by his second season in 2022.
And while he was flashing his potential early on, it wasn’t until the 2022 playoffs that he entered his next gear. Lenoir brought down interceptions in both the Wild Card and Divisional rounds, introducing himself to the national audience in a big way.
The following season, Lenoir started all 17 regular season games for the Niners for the first time. The former Duck nabbed three interceptions in the process, racking up 10 passes defended.
2024 was another impressive season, making 2 interceptions and 9 PDs. Midway through the campaign, the 49ers rewarded him with a 5-year, $88.9 million deal.
The contract is heavily backloaded. $50 million of the deal is not guaranteed, and would primarily be paid out in 2027 and 2028. If Lenoir continues his trajectory, it will be worth every penny.