According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Detroit Lions have reached an agreement with free agent cornerback Emmanuel Moseley on a one-year, $6 million deal. That's a significant blow to the San Francisco 49ers' backfield. Moseley started 16 games for the Niners over the past two seasons.
Former 49ers' CB Emmanuel Moseley reached agreement with the Lions today on a one-year, $6 million deal, per source. The deal was confirmed and negotiated by Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2023
The 49ers were interested in bringing Moseley back following his injury-shortened season. However, the defensive back reportedly earned some interest in the free agency market.
"He's a guy we'd have interest in bringing back because of the way he plays, but also what he stands for," general manager John Lynch said at the team's end-of-season press conference on February 1. "He's one of us and we'd sure like to have him back."
RELATED Two NFL playoff teams praise 49ers CB Emmanuel Moseley
San Francisco signed Moseley (5-11, 190) as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee in 2018. He registered 22 tackles, a tackle for a loss, five passes defensed, an interception, and a touchdown before suffering a torn ACL during Week 5 this past season and landing on injured reserve, per Pro Football Reference.
Thank God truly blessed 🙏🏿
— Emmanuel Moseley (@Mannymoseley) March 14, 2023
The cornerback is expected to be 100 percent healthy in time for training camp.
"E-man's doing really well," Lynch said. "... Most of the time, unless somebody's hit a complication, you typically hear (they're) doing really well, a little bit ahead of schedule, because these guys are elite athletes. And if you know Mose at all, his commitment to the process is going to be elite, and that's what he's done."
Moseley, 26, has recorded 152 tackles, 33 passes defensed, four interceptions, and a touchdown in 45 game appearances (33 starts) through his five NFL seasons.