The San Francisco 49ers were among the many teams that wrapped up OTAs and mandatory minicamp last week as they get prepared for the 2025 season. The next stop for the entire NFL is training camp and preseason.
This is the final proving ground for veterans and rookies looking to make a team’s 53-man roster or practice squad. The 49ers will have a few interesting position battles worth watching next month and into August.
At the same time, many former San Francisco players will try to win jobs across the NFL later this summer. One of those players is veteran cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. Ya-Sin spent the 2024 season with the 49ers on a one-year deal.
The 29-year-old cornerback spent most of his time on special teams last season (107 snaps), despite appearing in 13 games.
Ya-Sin departed San Francisco this offseason and signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions. In theory, it was a smart move for Ya-Sin, given the number of injuries the Lions had last year on defense.
If the same thing were to happen again in Detroit, he could find himself playing significant snaps for a contender.
However, before Ya-Sin can think that far in advance, he has to win a job on the 53-man roster, which won’t be easy.
Detroit has a ton of talent at CB, especially at the back end of the depth chart. The Lions brought in Avonte Maddox on a one-year deal. They also re-signed Khalil Dorsey to a two-year contract in March.
And not to mention, second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is healthy after being banged up in his first year. Ya-Sin’s direct competition is Maddox, who has already impressed the Lions’ coaching staff and has the versatility to play cornerback and safety.
That being said, since the Lions didn’t have a mandatory minicamp, Ya-Sin’s next chance to make some noise will be at training camp next month. The veteran will have to play at a high level to beat the competition, as the Lions could easily cut ties for no cost.