49ers 2017 NFL Draft Positional Preview: Cornerback
By Peter Panacy
2017 NFL Draft and Possible Prospects
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat’s Grant Cohn might get ripped for being hard on the team on a regular basis. But he’s right about one thing — San Francisco needs cornerbacks who can fit the new scheme.
He wrote:
"First, the 49ers need to find a cornerback. This defense doesn’t work without terrific corners (think Richard Sherman). That’s because the system places the strong safety “in the box” — right in front of the tight end — so the cornerbacks don’t have much help. They’re mostly on their own. They have to be fantastic. The Niners don’t have fantastic corners. They have one who’s young and talented — Rashard Robinson — and one who’s old and short — Tramaine Brock. He doesn’t fit the new scheme. The team needs to replace him."
Cohn suggests the Niners draft Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore with their first pick in 2017.
Lattimore is the best corner in the draft, and it’s hard to doubt that. At No. 2 overall, it might be a bit of a reach. But not much. He’ll be a top-10 player.
Thankfully, this year’s draft provides a deep class of prospects. Florida State’s Teez Tabor might have been included in this discussion. But a relatively poor NFL Scouting Combine and bad interviews have tainted his draft stock.
Instead, the Niners can also look at possible second-round options like Ohio State’s Gareon Conley, Washington’s Kevin King or LSU’s Tre’Davious White, should the team’s Round 1 pick address another position.
Mid-to-Late-Round Prospects Worth Considering
- Fabian Moreau, UCLA
- Quincy Wilson, Florida
- Cordrea Tankersley, Clemson
- Ahkello Witherspoon, Colorado
- Howard Wilson, Houston
- Dwayne Thomas, LSU
- Shaquil Griffin, Central Florida