The San Francisco 49ers may not be done building their defense, and one position that remains unsettled heading into training camp is nickelback.
After exploring the possibility of signing Damon Arnette, who ultimately joined the Houston Texans, the 49ers are still keeping an eye on free agent options. One name that gains traction is veteran corner Mike Hilton, a seasoned defensive back with extensive experience in the slot.
Whether Hilton makes sense for San Francisco may come down to how the team plans to deploy Deommodore Lenoir. Over the last two seasons, Lenoir has played primarily in the slot and made a name for himself there. But with Charvarius Ward leaving in free agency, there’s growing speculation that Lenoir could shift to a boundary role in 2025.
That opens the door for a possible addition at nickelback — and Hilton could be a strong fit. At age 31, he’s far from washed up. In fact, he would bring both experience and playmaking ability to a unit looking to reinforce the middle of the field. Compared to current starter Tre Brown, Hilton offers more veteran savvy and a track record of production.
San Francisco also added Upton Stout in the third round of the 2025 draft, and there’s hope that the rookie can eventually lock down the slot role. But betting on an unproven rookie to start Week 1 is risky. Signing Hilton could provide both insurance and competition, giving the defense more flexibility and depth.
Hilton has posted 11 career interceptions while allowing 14 touchdowns over seven NFL seasons. He played last season with the Cincinnati Bengals, earning more than $6 million. His price tag won’t be cheap, but it won’t break the bank either — especially for a 49ers team with more than \$46 million in available salary cap space, the second-highest total in the league.
The idea of signing Hilton isn’t just about plugging a hole — it’s about raising the floor of the defense. With training camp approaching and roster spots tightening, adding a proven veteran to compete in the slot could be the kind of subtle offseason move that pays off come playoff time.
As things stand, the 49ers’ nickelback situation remains fluid. Whether they trust Brown, fast-track Stout, or bring in Hilton to elevate the room, decisions made in the next few weeks could shape how well this defense performs in 2025.
