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49ers: San Francisco’s 2017 Offseason Big Board, version 2.0

By Eric Gamboa

Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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49ers offseason
Mar 6, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Colorado defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon participates in workout drills during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Cornerback

The 49ers have a solid corps of cornerbacks and possibly a star-in-the-making in Rashard Robinson. Shifting from the 3-4 to DC Saleh’s 4-3 under will requires bigger-bodied corners capable of pressing at the line of scrimmage.

Robinson can certainly fit that mold but the 49ers will need to find his counterpart. Another key component of 4-3 under is the deep safety. On this big board, we are going with assumption the Jimmy Ward solidifies that deep, roaming free safety spot.

By now, All of the best free agency CBs have signed with other teams,. which brings us back to the draft. Plus, there are plenty of great CB prospects in the middle rounds of the draft like Colorado’s Ahkello Witherspoon.

Witherspoon would be a perfect fit for Saleh’s scheme considering he stands at 6-foot-3.

However, he’s much more than a tall CB. In 2016, he recorded 22 pass breakups. Matching Witherspoon with Robinson would make an excellent CB duo for Saleh to work with.

  1. Draft Colorado, CB, Ahkello Witherspoon in third round.
  2. Draft Houston, CB, Howard Wilson in fourth round.
  3. Take a flyer on Alteraun Verner on a one-year, four-million dollar prove it deal.
  4. Take a flyer on Justin Gilbert on a one year, three-million dollar prove it deal.

Draft projections, statistical data and combine information provided, courtesy of Walter Football.