In a move no one saw coming... literally no one, the San Francisco 49ers have signed Eli Apple to a one-year deal. Yes, Eli Apple — the 2016 top-10 pick by the New York Giants, whose short, rocky tenure with Big Blue still lingers in the memories of fans for all the wrong reasons.
Apple now joins a Niners defense that’s been ravaged by departures, and is already dealing with injury concerns, most notably to second-year corner Renardo Green. And just like that, one of the league’s most polarizing journeymen lands with a hopeful Super Bowl contender.
Veteran cornerback Eli Apple is signing a one-year deal with the 49ers, per Kevin Conner at @UniSportsMgmt. pic.twitter.com/fN9DD4pQwC
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 27, 2025
Related: 3 disastrous first-round picks the Giants wish they could erase
How's that for a late-July plot twist?
Apple’s career takes wild turn with shocking 49ers deal
Apple’s career arc has been anything but boring. Drafted 10th overall out of Ohio State, he lasted less than three seasons in New York before being shipped off to the New Orleans Saints in a cloud of locker room drama.
Since then, he’s bounced around to the Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, and LA Chargers, showing flashes of potential, but not exactly doing enough to stick around.
His most recent stint with the Chargers was marred by injury, limiting him to four appearances in 2024. But now, despite all of that, he’s suiting up for a team looking to get back into the Super Bowl conversation.
It’s hard not to do a double take.
Apple becomes the second former Giants defensive back to join the 49ers this year, following Jason Pinnock’s free-agent deal in March. The 49ers were in desperate need to fill the backend with Talanoa Hufanga and Charvarius Ward both leaving in free agency, and it turns out if, you've played for the Giants in the past, that's all the previous experience you need.
But while Pinnock’s departure was more bittersweet, Apple’s resurgence is straight-up surreal.
He arrives at the perfect time. If he's got anything left in the tank, training camp is the time to show it. He'll be battling with Darrell Luter Jr., Tre Brown, and Tre Avery for backup duties, but holy moly what a shocker this was.
This is a player who clashed with teammates, got suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, and was publicly labeled “a cancer” by Landon Collins. And yet, nine years later, he’s still finding ways to keep his playing career alive.
The 49ers aren’t what they once were, and neither is Eli Apple. But that doesn’t mean this opportunity won’t matter. A strong training camp could go a long way in helping him stick in 2025. And with new defensive coordinator Robert Saleh back running the show, who knows if he can do anything to salvage a career once thought to be completely lost. Talk about not having "this" on your Bingo card.