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2017 NFL Draft: Complete 7-Round Mock for the San Francisco 49ers

By Peter Panacy

Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the San Francisco 49ers helmet before game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The 49ers beat the Broncos 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the San Francisco 49ers helmet before game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The 49ers beat the Broncos 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 5, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes free safety Malik Hooker speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes free safety Malik Hooker speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Malik Hooker. 2. player. 42. . Safety. Ohio State

I’ve been going back and forth with the 49ers’ first-round draft choice for some time now.

Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster has been a major focus, and Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas has earned some consideration.

But the more and more I think about it, Ohio State free safety Malik Hooker is the best fit here.

Hooker is a rangy center-field-type safety, who would be a seamless fit in a Cover 3 defense. This scheme, in the mold of what the Seattle Seahawks operate, requires someone to serve as an Earl Thomas-like safety atop the defense.

And Hooker can do this. Just ask Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson:

A Cover 3 requires the free safety to be high, as a strong safety typically drops down in the box. Assuming few other changes take place within the secondary, safety Eric Reid holds down the free safety position. Defensive back Jimmie Ward stays at cornerback.

And the Niners land a game-changing player in Hooker.