With OTAs wrapping up across the league and mandatory minicamp on the horizon, several veteran free agents are still without a job. At this point in the offseason, you’d see vets getting signed to compete for a spot on a team’s 53-man roster.
However, that hasn’t been the case for former San Francisco 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who is wondering when his next opportunity will appear after an injury-plagued last two years with the Detroit Lions.
That said, a potential landing spot could be on Moseley’s radar following a retirement earlier this week.
Texans Should Consider Bringing in Ex-49er Emmanuel Moseley
On Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that veteran cornerback Ronald Darby informed the Houston Texans that he’s retiring from the NFL. The Texans just signed the 10-year veteran to a one-year deal in March to give depth on the outside.
Another retirement: Veteran CB Ronald Darby, who played 10 seasons and helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LII, informed the Houston Texans that he is retiring from the NFL, per sources. pic.twitter.com/ZC9RqbSqqv
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 2, 2025
Now, the Texans do not have much veteran depth behind outside cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter, outside of Tremon Smith. Moseley could be the perfect candidate to bring in and compete for a job on the 53-man roster.
The 29-year-old cornerback joined the 49ers as an undrafted free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft. Moseley only played one game as a rookie, but he took a huge step in his development in 2019.
Moseley appeared in all 16 games and made nine starts. He tallied 50 combined tackles, eight pass deflections, two tackles for loss, a quarterback hit, and an interception. Over the next two seasons (2020 and 21), he started in 19 out of 23 games, recording 20 pass deflections and two interceptions.
The veteran cornerback had his 2022 season abruptly cut short by a torn left ACL, as he only played in five games. Moseley departed San Francisco in the following offseason, signing a one-year, $6 million contract with the Lions.
But the ex-49ers defender could not shake the injury bug, as he played one game in 2023 before suffering another torn ACL (right knee). Despite an injury-ridden first year, the Lions re-signed Moseley to a one-year deal last offseason.
However, he suffered another injury (torn pectoral) in training camp, which forced him to miss significant time again. Moseley appeared in two games in 2024, mostly on special teams, before ending the year on the NFI list.
Things haven’t been easy for ex-49ers cornerback over the last few years, but he continues to fight to get back on the field. Houston would be a good option for Moseley as he wouldn’t have to start and could easily give Tremon Smith a competition if healthy.
That said, we’ll see how things ultimately play out for the veteran cornerback, who will hopefully sign with a new team in the coming weeks.