With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching on April 23, the trade market is starting to heat up, and one player who might draw interest is the San Francisco 49ers‘ Renardo Green.
Last season, television cameras caught a fiery sideline interaction in which Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan laid into Green during the 49ers’ playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
As a result, speculation emerged about whether the 49ers would be open to trading Green this offseason. Moreover, with the draft approaching, there could be an offer for the player coming San Francisco’s way.
Nonetheless, ESPN’s Nick Wagoner shared the latest on Green’s future in the Bay Area.
“One name that got connected to the trade market in free agency this year for the San Francisco 49ers is cornerback Renardo Green,” Wagoner said in an April 15 video on ESPN.com. “… But despite potential trade talk coming from the outside, both Shanahan and general manager John Lynch said there was nothing to it. The team wasn’t looking to trade Green, and they still believe he has a bright future in San Francisco.
“It is worth noting Green is entering a pivotal third year. He’s a former second-round pick, so after this season would be his first opportunity to potentially sign a contract extension. He’s going to need to have a bounce-back year, with fewer mental errors, for the Niners to want to keep him around long term.”
Kyle Shanahan Talks Renardo Green After Fiery Interaction
Meanwhile, Shanahan chalked up his interaction with Green as tough love and nothing that would prompt the Niners to trade the player.
“Where you are in trouble is if I’m never challenging you and I’m never getting on you, because it really shows I don’t believe you can do any better,” Shanahan said on March 30 at the NFL Annual League Meeting (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area’s (h/t Matt Maiocco).
“And I think Renardo has done some really good things. He’s played at a starter level, and I have much higher expectations for him than that… I believe so much in Renardo, just the type of guy that he is, the talent that he is. He was a dude I loved coming out of college. I loved him in his rookie year, and I loved him here.
“But when a guy doesn’t do his best, which happens a lot, I reacted the way I did. I took him out for a play because I thought he messed up on a coverage. I wanted to challenge him to go back in and do it better.”
Could the 49ers Trade for Dexter Lawrence II?
Speaking of trades, Dexter Lawrence II’s issues with the New York Giants seem to extend beyond his contract. Separate reports from CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones and the New York Post indicate he is looking to move on from New York, no matter how things play out.
As a result, could the Niners be one of the teams looking to lure Lawrence out of New York? David Lombardi of the San Francisco Standard doesn’t see the 49ers being a serious player for the defensive tackle.
“Would the 49ers go after Dexter Lawrence? Likely not,” Lombardi said on April 16 on his YouTube channel. “I mean, of course, make a call, but they’ve already added at the defensive tackle position. That is Osa Odighizuwa. It is a different DT position, though. I think that’s something that has to be emphasized as we look at how the 49ers are building this roster. We’re talking about foundational pillars for San Francisco.
“They do have a new foundational pillar that they have acquired for defensive tackle. You see that shaded here in yellow, and Osa Odighizuwa, but that is the 3-technique defensive tackle position. Dexter Lawrence plays the nose. He plays the 1-technique, and that’s what makes him so valuable.”
49ers Insider Shares Big Update on Renardo Green’s Future