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San Francisco 49ers: Prioritizing Each Position on Roster Before the 2016 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

August 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive line coach Mike Solari (far left) instructs during the third quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Chargers 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
August 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive line coach Mike Solari (far left) instructs during the third quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Chargers 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) breaks up a pass intended for St. Louis Rams wide receiver Kenny Britt (18) during the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) breaks up a pass intended for St. Louis Rams wide receiver Kenny Britt (18) during the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

Cornerback

Players on Roster: Tramaine Brock, Kenneth Acker, Dontae Johnson, Keith Reaser, Marcus Cromartie, Chris Davis, Jimmie Ward (nickel)

The 49ers’ cornerback position has a lot of depth but no true No. 1 cornerback. And one could argue the best No. 2 corner is the guy filling the top spot on the chart: Tramaine Brock.

Aside from Brock, the vast majority of San Francisco’s cornerback crop is young and developing.

Younger defensive backs typically take a season or two to develop, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to see corners like Kenneth Acker, Keith Reaser and Jimmie Ward have their respective share of ups and downs.

But Ward looked very competent in the nickel role during the latter half of 2015. He’s clearly a few steps ahead of guys like Acker and Reaser, who missed their rookie campaigns in 2014.

Barring any changes, Brock will likely assume the No. 1 job again in 2016. Yet the problem here is no one else has separated himself from the rest of the pack to play alongside Brock in a standard formation. Acker lost that job late in the season a year ago, although he could re-assume it to start this season.

There are some promising cornerback prospects early in the NFL draft. Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves III and Ohio State’s Eli Apple look the part.

But would general manager Trent Baalke look to spend yet another first- or second-round draft pick on a defensive back? He’s already done so in each of the past three seasons.

Priority 2

Next: Safety