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The San Francisco 49ers were -6 in turnover ratio last year. They tied with the second-fewest interceptions in the NFL. The only reason they weren’t the worst is that the New York Jets exist. Generating interceptions has been a struggle for this team for several years. You’d think it would be a strength for an organization that invests as much as it has in its defensive line, but the players on the back end have not held up their end of the bargain.
It’s no surprise that the two seasons when the team leader had at least five interceptions were the two best seasons of this decade (2022 and 2023). Mooney Ward and Tashaun Gipson had five. However, aside from that, only once has a player with more than two interceptions led the Niners.
That’s where Raheem Morris comes into play. Falcons rookie safety Xavier Watts had five interceptions last year, while Jessie Bates and Dee Alford had three. Can Morris get the same kind of production out of the 49ers’ defensive backs?
Bates has been known as a ballhawk for much of his NFL career. Watts entered the league with a reputation for taking the ball away. The only player with the same kind of knack for getting in throwing lanes on the 49ers plays linebacker. Fred Warner had four interceptions back in 2023. It’s not a great look that no defensive back on the roster has topped that number in the following two seasons.
Will that change this season?
Deommodore Lenoir led the team with two interceptions last season. Renardo Green didn’t have any, despite being targeted more than anybody else. Malik Mustapha had one. He also dropped one. Ji’Ayir Brown dropped one as well. He finished with two. Does Upton Stout lead the team, or will it be Warner now that he’s healthy again?
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