Darrell Luter Jr., a former fifth-round pick for the San Francisco 49ers, wasn’t just claimed off waivers on Monday, he was the hottest player on the wire by far, with no other waived player even close. The Las Vegas Raiders snatched him up with the top spot, but they weren’t the only ones wanting a piece of the action.
Luter Jr. Was A Hot Commodity
The 49ers made their cuts, and two players ultimately landed on other teams. Undrafted rookie Bryson Eason got scooped by the Kansas City Chiefs after his preseason tape turned heads, but Luter Jr. was a whole different story. The dude was a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and had made the 49ers’ 53-man roster for each of his first three years. While he battled injuries earlier on, he played in all 17 games last year, starting three and balling out on special teams. So yeah, it’s a bit of a shocker he didn’t make the 53-man roster this time around. What’s even crazier? The Raiders submitted their *only* waiver claim for him. But hold up, because the Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, and Indianapolis Colts also tried to claim Luter Jr. That’s five teams trying to snag one player, folks! ESPN’s Field Yates reported no other player had more than two claims. Talk about a testament to his talent!
The 49ers’ Cornerback Dilemma
So, the 49ers decided to keep six other cornerbacks: Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, Upton Stout, Jack Jones, Ephysians Prysock, and Nate Hobbs. But here’s the kicker: Green, Prysock, and Hobbs are all nursing injuries. Hobbs even got reverted to Injured Reserve with a designation to return after initially making the 53-man roster. You gotta wonder if the 49ers were hoping to stash Luter Jr. on their practice squad. If so, that plan blew up in their face, big time. Losing a reliable player who just played all 17 games last year and contributed on special teams, especially with injury issues at the position, is a tough pill to swallow. The Raiders now get a clear chance to play Luter Jr. early, while the 49ers had to sign Jakob Robinson to their practice squad just to add another cornerback.
With their current injury situation, the 49ers might be scrambling for more bodies at cornerback as Week 1 approaches. Losing a 2023 fifth-round pick for nothing definitely makes things interesting for them, while the Raiders just picked up a key piece. It’s wild how fast things change on cutdown day.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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