2017 NFL Draft: The Top 32 Prospects and How the 49ers Are Linked to Each

The San Francisco 49ers could go in one of many different directions in Round 1 of the 2017 NFL Draft. Niner Noise takes a look at CBS Sports’ big board and explores how the Niners are linked to each prospective first-round draftee.

It’s NFL Draft season, which means rumors and speculation will dominate media waves until actual names are called on April 27.

Such is the case for the San Francisco 49ers, who own the second overall pick in this year’s draft.

Looking around the league, it’s not hard to find an assortment of different players and targets general manager John Lynch has in mind here. Will he focus on defense — maybe the front seven or the secondary — or will an offensive prospect find his way to Santa Clara?

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Or, just as possible, will Lynch trade down and stockpile more picks?

You can get where all the speculation comes from. It’s everywhere.

But let’s try to put it all into one place. In this slideshow, we’ll take a look at the top-32 prospects in this year’s draft and see how the 49ers are tied to each player.

We’ll use CBS Sports’ Rob Rang’s big board, so please don’t argue with us about missing out on “this guy” or ranking Player X too high.

Don’t worry though. We’ll come up with our own Round 1 49ers big board at the very end of the slideshow. You can argue with that all you want.

So let’s kick things off with a consensus No. 1 overall pick, Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett.

No. 1: EDGE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M

A number of players have risen and fallen on big boards in recent weeks and months. But Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett remains atop the list.

He’s about as surefire a pick there is in this year’s NFL Draft, and it’s almost guaranteed he goes to the Cleveland Browns, who hold the first overall pick.

Maybe.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Browns are up in the air whether or not Garrett will be the guy at No. 1:

Should Garrett slip, the Niners would be waiting.

Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (h/t Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk) reported on March 30 the Niners would meet with Garrett. But 49ers general manager John Lynch later stated the team was already comfortable with their evaluations on Garrett and would not meet with him.

No. 2: Defensive Lineman Solomon Thomas, Stanford

Like the situation with Myles Garrett, the 49ers did not see a need to have a pre-draft meeting with Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.

Thomas has already been mocked to San Francisco numerous times, so it isn’t out of the question the Niners make such a move here.

And while the 49ers didn’t bring in Thomas for a pre-draft visit, team coaches were on hand for Thomas’ performance at Stanford’s pro day, per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

If San Francisco uses its first pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, it will have spent two consecutive first picks on the defensive line — Arik Armstead in 2015 and DeForest Buckner in 2016.

This could mean the 49ers’ interest in Thomas is merely to explore options while drumming up rumors leading to a potential trade-up.

No. 3: Safety Jamal Adams, LSU

The safety position is going to be one of importance for San Francisco’s defense under coordinator Robert Saleh.

It’s possible this group includes incumbents Eric Reid (strong) and Jimmie Ward (free) this season, barring any draft changes.

Adding LSU strong safety Jamal Adams would be one enticing option, as he’d be expected to line up in the box instead of deep within the secondary in Cover 3 schemes.

According to SFGate.com’s Eric Branch, the Niners met with Adams at the NFL Scouting Combine but there haven’t been any meetings since:

This doesn’t mean San Francisco isn’t interested, especially if they held off on pre-draft meetings with other top-tier players already mentioned.

No. 4: Defensive Lineman Jonathan Allen, Alabama

The 49ers did have a pre-draft meeting with Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, as reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport:

Not long ago, Allen was widely viewed as the No. 2 overall prospect behind Myles Garrett. His stock might have slipped a bit, but not much. And he still should be viewed as a top-10 pick in this year’s NFL Draft.

Like Solomon Thomas, the 49ers would have to do some rearranging along the defensive line if they went with Allen, who plays the same position as incumbents DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead.

Still, Allen is a force and could wind up being a crucial cog in an up-and-coming Niners D-line.

No. 5: Cornerback Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State

Like the safety position, the 49ers are going to put a lot of pressure on their current group of cornerbacks.

And it’s one of necessity, following the team’s release of veteran corner Tramaine Brock after his arrest for an alleged domestic violence incident.

Related Story: Breaking Down 49ers' Cornerback Situation after Tramaine Brock's Release

The Niners corners will be in one-on-one coverage a lot this season, which means coverage guys are crucial.

Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore is the best pure coverage corner in this year’s draft, and San Francisco surely realizes this. The team brought him in for a pre-draft visit on April 5, per Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller:

This wouldn’t be a bad move by the Niners in Round 1, even if they make the pick at second overall.

No. 6: Tight End O.J. Howard, Alabama

One of the few players in Round 1 with no feasible links with the 49ers is Alabama tight end O.J. Howard.

Sure, Howard is the best tight end in this year’s class. And San Francisco could use an upgrade over returnees Vance McDonald and Garrett Celek.

Niner Noise provided a prospect breakdown for Howard, and even that article speculates the Niners won’t have any interest here. Especially not at No. 2.

It’s highly unlikely San Francisco goes this route.

But stranger things have happened, as we pointed out in this Niner Noise feature on Howard.

No. 7: Safety Malik Hooker, Ohio State

Take everything said about San Francisco’s safety situation, and now apply Ohio State free safety Malik Hooker to the equation.

Hooker would be a seamless fit in the 49ers defense this year, which is reason enough to consider him at No. 2 overall.

It’s why Hooker was the top choice in one of our own mock drafts.

Related Story: 49ers 2017 NFL Draft Complete Mock

To link him to the 49ers though, let’s look at what general manager John Lynch had to say.

“It doesn’t mean that we’re looking for a 5-9, 195-pound guy that Earl [Thomas] is, but we’re looking for some of those traits,” Lynch said of the Seahawks safety, via Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. “It’s a credit to Earl. He’s put it out there that this is the profile that you’re looking for when you’re playing this scheme.”

Barrows also drew the comparison between Hooker and Washington’s Budda Baker.

San Francisco already met with Baker — a day-two prospect — but not with Hooker.

That doesn’t mean the Niners won’t jump on him though.

No. 8: Running Back Dalvin Cook, Florida State

The 2017 NFL Draft provides a deep class of running backs, and one of those at the top is Florida State’s Dalvin Cook.

Cook has some red flags but also enough offensive intrigue to make him a fit in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

It was enough to entice San Francisco’s top brass to bring Cook in for a pre-draft visit on April 5, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.

Note, CBS Sports’ Rob Rang’s big board lists Cook ahead of LSU running back Leonard Fournette, who has a lot more smoke behind the rumors tying him to the Niners.

Who knows what this means, but it’s all but guaranteed the 49ers will add depth and competition behind No. 1 tailback Carlos Hyde this offseason.

The only question is when and in what round.

No. 9: Defensive End Derek Barnett, Tennessee

There aren’t any reports of the 49ers bringing in Tennessee edge rusher Derek Barnett in for a visit, nor is there a lot of speculative interest.

Still, Barnett to San Francisco could make a lot of sense.

Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuinness recently mocked Barnett to the Niners at No. 2 overall. In a nutshell, Barnett is a poor person’s Myles Garrett — exceptional in the pass rush, as this Sam Monson tweet illustrates:

Barnett would fit into the 49ers LEO role in a 4-3 base, the spot usually occupied by a right defensive end.

This is where the team’s best pass-rusher is situated, and the Niners currently have Aaron Lynch — 1.5 sacks last year — penciled in at the spot.

No. 10: Running Back Leonard Fournette, LSU

One player seemingly generating a lot of buzz at No. 2 overall is running back Leonard Fournette out of LSU.

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks noted, “”I wouldn’t totally rule out San Francisco,” with regards to Fournette at No. 2.

And DraftAnalyst.com’s Tony Pauline added more fuel to the fire with this report:

"Sources with knowledge of the situation tell me the San Francisco 49ers are very high on Fournette and are seriously considering using the second pick of the draft to acquire him. The new front office wants a bigger back to run the offense and they’re ready to give up on Carlos Hyde, who has had his struggles staying healthy since being drafted by the franchise in 2014."

The Niners may be willing to move on from Carlos Hyde at some point. But that doesn’t exactly mean Fournette is a fit here.

Fournette is better suited for a power-run scheme. Not the outside zone, which head coach Kyle Shanahan will implement.

And one can see why Fournette might not be a good idea, as our own Rich Madrid broke down earlier.

Related Story: Why the 49ers Should Avoid Leonard Fournette in the Draft

Like many rumors this time of year, this could be little more than the 49ers drumming up noise to make a draft-day move.

No. 11: Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky

The 49ers do need a quarterback at some point in the draft, although they aren’t exactly pressed into taking one early.

North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky sits atop most quarterbacking big boards entering the draft. While the one-year starter is far from a perfect signal-caller to enter the pro ranks, his intangibles and strengths make him a worthy prospect at the next level.

At No. 2, this pick probably wouldn’t make sense. But that doesn’t mean San Francisco hasn’t kicked the tires, at least according to SFGate.com’s Eric Branch and Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller:

It wouldn’t be shocking if these meetings were merely to judge whether or not Trubisky would be a bona fide option for the 49ers in Round 1, regardless if the team stays put in the current draft order.

But with veteran QB Brian Hoyer slated to start in 2017, this isn’t as pressing a need.

No. 12: Linebacker Reuben Foster, Alabama

Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster might wind up being one of the best fits the 49ers could seek in this year’s NFL Draft.

San Francisco’s linebacker crop was particularly vulnerable last season, especially after season-ending injuries to NaVorro Bowman and Ray-Ray Armstrong.

Adding Foster would make sense, even if his NFL Scouting Combine blowup raised some red flags.

The 49ers are interested too, according to various reports.

Along with running back Leonard Fournette, Foster was one of two prospects the 49ers were “in love with,” according to both Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller and the MMQB’s Albert Breer.

Who knows if there’s validity to the Foster report, while overhyping to what many feel is a false report on Fournette.

Still, Foster would help take pressure off Bowman in 2017 and could line up anywhere within the linebacker group in the Niners’ 4-3 defense.

No. 13: Linebacker Zach Cunningham, Linebacker

Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham may not wind up being a day-one prospect, but that doesn’t take away from his likable attributes meeting the 49ers’ needs.

Like the case with Reuben Foster, San Francisco needs some substantial help at this position.

According to Jared Tokarz of NFL Draft Insider, the Niners met with Cunningham at the NFL Scouting Combine.

There haven’t been any reported meetings since, which could push Cunningham down on San Francisco’s draft board a bit.

But if he falls into Round 2, it wouldn’t be a bad idea at all for the 49ers to make a move and address this critical need.

No. 14: Safety/Linebacker Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

Michigan safety/linebacker Jabrill Peppers is a difficult prospect to truly assess. He’s good at almost every defensive position, just not stellar at any particular one.

His coverage abilities probably make him a better fit at safety, although he wouldn’t be a bad option to have drop down into the box. That’s a 49ers need as well, and Peppers’ versatility is something worth considering here.

49ers general manager John Lynch, a former NFL safety, is certainly intrigued by Peppers’ skill set. He stated such via NFL.com’s Chase Goodbread:

The only way San Francisco pulls the trigger on a player like Peppers is if the team trades down in Round 1 or if Peppers falls into Round 2, where the 49ers are set to draft second.

No. 15: Linebacker Haason Reddick, Temple

If the 49ers aren’t able to land Alabama’s Reuben Foster earlier in the draft, targeting Temple linebacker Haason Reddick wouldn’t be a bad option.

Reddick, at 6-foot-1 and 237 pounds, is a bit undersized to play the LEO, or right defensive end position, in San Francisco’s new 4-3 defense. But he could easily fit into a WILL or SAM role, considering his coverage skills are particularly notable.

There haven’t been any ties between Reddick and the 49ers as of yet. Although this tweet from @DraftmareNFL certainly has to get some Niners fans thinking:

No. 16: Offensive Tackle Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin

Like Haason Reddick, there hasn’t been any buzz between the 49ers and Wisconsin offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk.

But that doesn’t mean San Francisco is hurting for offensive tackles.

Veteran left tackle Joe Staley will be turning 33 years old this season, and the Niners better think about replacing him sooner than later. Also, right tackle Trent Brown isn’t exactly a fit in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone scheme. Heck, Brown’s run-blocking abilities aren’t particularly great either.

So an upgrade wouldn’t be a bad move here.

Ramczyk is at the top of a very weak offensive tackle class this season. That’s not to say he won’t be a good player at the NFL level. It just means his value could get inflated.

The only likely way the 49ers make this move would be if he falls into Round 2 and is simply too good an option to pass up.

No. 17: Running Back Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

As was the case with defensive end Solomon Thomas, a good number of 49ers scouts and coaches were on hand for Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey’s pro day.

McCaffrey is an intriguing weapon, especially considering the versatility he could display in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

According to a March 29 report from Denver’s 104.3 The Fan, the Niners were one of four teams “most interested” in McCaffrey’s services this upcoming season:

And this must have gotten some draft analysts thinking. At No. 2, McCaffrey is a reach. But what if San Francisco was able to trade down?

It’s a scenario laid out by USA Today Sports‘ Nate Davis, who mocked McCaffrey to the Niners via a trade with the Carolina Panthers.

One just has to think how Shanahan would use a player like McCaffrey in his offense.

No. 18: Wide Receiver John Ross, Washington

Washington wideout John Ross blew away scouts at the NFL Scouting Combine with his amazing 4.22 40-yard-dash time.

That’s enough to propel him to the very top of many wide receiver big boards, and the receiver-needy 49ers have to be paying attention, right?

Well, at this point we’ve already reached the spot where San Francisco would either have to trade down from No. 2 or up from No. 34. So that creates difficulty, unless the team is hoping he falls into Round 2, which he won’t.

This issue is probably keeping any reported Niners interest from developing. But that doesn’t mean the team isn’t looking.

No. 19: Cornerback Marlon Humphrey, Alabama

The 49ers need cornerbacks — we’ve covered that already — and could be looking at someone outside of the top 10 to land in what is shaping up to be a deep crop of prospects.

Alabama’s Marlon Humphrey is quite raw and probably won’t be an ideal starter right away, as his coverage skills are lacking a bit. But the intangibles are there, including his impressive 4.41 40-yard dash time at the combine.

Humphrey hasn’t been linked to the Niners this offseason just yet. But one has to think he’d cause a bit of San Francisco intrigue if he ended up falling into the second round.

No. 20: Wide Receiver Mike Williams, Clemson

Not long ago, Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams was considered the top of his class entering the 2017 NFL Draft.

Williams’ stock has fallen somewhat, especially after a relatively sluggish 40-yard time (4.52) and the blazing speed John Ross showed in comparison. But that doesn’t mean Williams is incapable of being a special player at the next level.

Injuries aside, Williams has the potential to be a game-changer on offense. And San Francisco needs plenty of these contributors in coming seasons.

KNBR 680’s Kevin Jones noted the 49ers should at least take a look at Williams at No. 2, writing:

"Three weeks away from judgment day, I’m also glued to Williams’ tape, and willing to bet he becomes one of the best players from the 2017 draft class. You see a lot of Mike Evans from Johnny Manziel’s days at Texas A&M, where the receiver bailed out the quarterback often (Evans had 96 receptions, 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns last year). You see ball skills, a massive catch radius and a feel for defenses that generally translates to touchdowns on Sundays."

The additions of free-agent receivers Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin alleviate this need a bit, so that might convince San Francisco to hope Williams falls into Round 2.

No. 21: Offensive Tackle Cam Robinson, Alabama

As noted previously, the 49ers might consider adding some help to their offensive line this offseason. It’s far from a perfect unit.

And one of those moves could be bringing in Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson.

San Francisco held a pre-draft visit with Robinson, as Niner Noise broke down earlier this month.

Related Story: Is Cam Robinson Really in Play for the 49ers?

Covered in the breakdown, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Robinson would meet with San Francisco.

But Robinson also comes with off-the-field issues, which have to be of concern. And he might end up being a better guard at the NFL level. The tape doesn’t reveal a great fit within a zone system anyway, which makes the fit with Kyle Shanahan’s offense more than questionable.

Yet San Francisco has some reported interest, so it’s something worth watching until further notice.

No. 22: Wide Receiver Corey Davis, Western Michigan

Just like Mike Williams, the 49ers could be intrigued enough to make a move for 6-foot-3, 209-pound Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis at the latter stages of Round 1 or early in Round 2.

Davis’ size is intriguing enough to suggest he’ll be a solid red-zone option for a 49ers offense needing such in 2017. Yet the Niners have yet to meet with Davis, so there’s not apparent link there right now.

Still, Joe Fann of 49ers.com broke down NFL analysts’ takes on both Williams and Davis in a recent piece on receivers. One can suppose that’s a link, but read into it what you may.

Of note, Daniel Jeremiah and Will Brinson were the experts viewing Davis as the best option.

No. 23: Quarterback Deshaun Watson, Clemson

The 49ers and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson are tied together, although it’s somewhat hard to see the scheme fit here.

Watson’s traits emulate a lot of what was said about former Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and head coach Kyle Shanahan elected not to have him as a part of his offense moving forward.

That doesn’t mean Watson is locked into his current skill set though, so it’s not out of the question San Francisco would consider him.

Especially if he somehow fell into Round 2.

According to a report from ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, Watson has already met with the 49ers on multiple occasions.

“It went really good,” Shanahan said of the last meeting. “I enjoyed it. Met with him at the combine too and then got to spend a little bit more time with him last week.”

We’ll see if this translates into anything bigger, but it’s hard to see Watson going to San Francisco just yet.

No. 24: EDGE Charles Harris, Missouri

The 2017 NFL Draft is deep with edge rushers, and the 49ers could use more than just one this offseason.

But if they fail to land someone like Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett or Tennessee’s Derek Barnett early, Missouri’s Charles Harris isn’t a bad fallback option.

Harris has 16 combined sacks over his last two seasons, and Missouri has been churning out elite pass-rushers for some time now (think Aldon Smith).

The 49ers probably wouldn’t be enticed to trade back up into Round 1 to select someone like Harris, especially considering this class’ depth. But if Harris managed to fall into Round 2, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Niners make the move.

No. 25: Defensive Tackle Malik McDowell, Michigan State

At 6-foot-6 and 295 pounds, it’s clear why Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell could be a force at the NFL level.

The only issue has been injuries, which have certainly hurt his draft stock.

Yet Pro Football Focus put together a piece comparing McDowell to the 49ers’ first-round draft pick from a year ago, DeForest Buckner. In it, Josh Liskiewitz wrote:

"McDowell has all the physical tools to play this season at the caliber Buckner did last year, and the deeper his film and past production is delved into, the more likely it appears Michigan State’s star defender is headed in that direction."

Here’s the problem with the fit though — the 49ers already have Buckner. They don’t necessarily need another.

So it’s a bit easier to cross this selection off San Francisco’s watch list.

No. 26: EDGE Takkarist McKinley, UCLA

See how deep the edge-rushing position is in this year’s draft?

UCLA’s Takkarist McKinley is an intriguing option for San Francisco. On the EDGE, McKinley could easily use his 6-foot-2, 250-pound frame to get around blockers and converge on the quarterback or ball-carrier.

One pressing concern is the shoulder injury that might hinder his ability to start in Week 1 of the 2017 season.

But if that checks out…

San Francisco has a need at LEO, and McKinley could fit the bill here. Yet there haven’t been any reports linking the two sides, so all is quiet for now.

No. 27: Tight End David Njoku, Miami

If the 49ers elect to pass on tight end O.J. Howard — they will — looking at Miami’s David Njoku might not be a bad idea.

Njoku was highly productive in just 13 games for Miami last season, logging 43 receptions for 698 yards and eight touchdowns. His 6-foot-4, 246-pound frame, combined with a 4.64 40-yard time, could make him an enticing mismatch for San Francisco’s offense.

He probably won’t go in Round 1, which makes a day-two pick for the Niners plausible here.

There hasn’t been any reported interest between the two sides though, so it’s likely the 49ers would use their second pick in the draft on someone else.

No. 28: Defensive End Taco Charlton, Michigan

Don’t let Michigan defensive end Taco Charlton’s 6-foot-5 frame fool you, he’s a promising pass-rusher off the EDGE and could be a force for a team needing defensive line help.

Like a few of the prospects in this part of Rob Rang’s big board, the Niners don’t have any links to Charlton, nor have they brought him in for a pre-draft visit.

One of the ways Charlton to the 49ers makes sense though is if San Francisco feels he’d be a better option than incumbent D-lineman Arik Armstead.

It’s doubtful the Niners are at that point just yet, and they may feel as if Armstead is a key part of the rebuilding project.

If so, don’t expect the 49ers to call Charlton’s name.

No. 29: Offensive Guard Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky

The 49ers appear to be set along the offensive line, especially at the interior positions, with centers Jeremy Zuttah and Daniel Kilgore competing and the guard spots occupied by Zane Beadles and Joshua Garnett.

So it’s doubtful San Francisco will add more interior linemen via the draft, right?

Not early, which puts Western Kentucky offensive guard Forrest Lamp all but out of the question. At least we’d think.

But Lamp could easily slip into Round 2, where the 49ers hold the No. 34 overall pick.

SB Nation put together a mock draft recently, and David Fucillo of Niners Nation represented San Francisco. His pick? You guessed it… Lamp.

Fucillo wrote:

"If you’re truly devoted to the notion of taking the best player available, then Lamp has to be the pick. He may not be this year’s version of Zack Martin, but being Cody Whitehair isn’t bad either. On a team that is at the start of a rebuild, getting a surefire starter in Lamp will pay off."

It kind of makes sense, especially when one considers the 49ers O-line ranked 30th in pass protection and dead last in run support last year, according to Football Outsiders.

No. 30: Offensive Guard Dion Dawkins, Temple

If not Forrest Lamp, perhaps Temple offensive guard Dion Dawkins at No. 34 overall.

The 6-foot-4, 309-pound prospect has left tackle experience, which could bode well down the road when incumbent Joe Staley elects to call it a career. But he still projects as a better guard and, as discussed on the previous slide, this position is far from perfect.

Dawkins is also one of the safer bets in what otherwise is a weak offensive line class in 2017.

And there’s a real possibility he’s on the board in Round 2.

Likely knowing this, the 49ers brought in Dawkins for a pre-draft visit, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

The Niners drafted Joshua Garnett in Round 1 last season, although his rookie year was a bit of a disappointment. And left guard Zane Beadles isn’t a long-term answer either.

Dawkins would, at least, add competition to this group and maybe push Beadles out of the picture. Or, if things go that way, Garnett winds up being a bust and Dawkins is the next man up.

If he’s drafted, of course.

No. 31: Offensive Tackle Garett Bolles, Utah

I’m sure a few of us have misspelled Utah offensive tackle Garett Bolles’ first name a few times. CBS Sports’ Rob Rang even did, which threw me through a loop.

That’s OK. My last name is tough.

We digress. San Francisco’s offensive line needs help at some point, and the previous slides have covered that in detail.

So are the 49ers interested in Bolles early in Round 2 if he falls?

Not from any reports, but Bolles has been in contact with Joe Staley, according to Eagles Wire’s Turron Davenport:

Maybe Staley will be in the Niners’ war room on draft day? No.

No. 32: Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, Colorado

The last player on Rob Rang’s big board (the Round 1 portion) is Colorado cornerback Chidobe Awuzie.

Colorado is churning out two exceptional corners in this year’s draft, the other Ahkello Witherspoon, who is likely a day-two option.

At 6-foot-0 and 202 pounds, the better-known Awuzie can play on the outside or over the slot. He’s done both and could translate his skill set over to the NFL level.

Awuzie, a native of nearby San Jose, is already someone on San Francisco’s radar.

According to general manager John Lynch (h/t Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee), the Niners will be bringing in the talented cornerback at some point this week.

Awuzie might end up being an ideal fit in a Cover 3-type scheme, especially considering the long-term abilities of him lining up anywhere within the secondary.

Niner Noise Big Board

I’ll let this tweet get things started:

Not much has changed. Occasionally I swap out Marshon Lattimore for Jamal Adams. And Solomon Thomas is on the fringe of the 140 characters with Derek Barnett.

But so you all can argue with me and tell me how I know nothing about the NFL Draft, here’s a top-10 big board for the 49ers based off how I’m feeling right now:

1. Myles Garrett, EDGE
2. Malik Hooker, Free Safety
3. Reuben Foster, Inside Linebacker
4. Marshon Lattimore, Cornerback
5. Jamal Adams, Strong Safety
6. Derek Barnett, EDGE
7. Solomon Thomas, Defensive Line
8. Mike Williams, Wide Receiver
9. Jonathan Allen, Defensive Line
10. Christian McCaffrey, Running Back

I still feel as if Myles Garrett goes No. 1 overall, but the 49ers have to be watching here to see what the Browns do.

More from Niner Noise

• 49ers 2023 NFL Draft tracker: Pick-by-pick news and analysis
• Predicting 49ers NFL Draft picks by looking at final mocks
• DraftKings NFL Draft Promo – Win $150 Guaranteed on Any $5 Bet 
• 2023 NFL Draft: EDGE Byron Young could be impact player for 49ers
• 5 low-key NFL Draft options for 49ers who are flying under the radar

And I won’t change my pick on Malik Hooker, as long as Garrett is the first player taken. Although Reuben Foster wouldn’t be a bad choice here either.

The only way the majority of other picks make sense is if San Francisco trades down, which is altogether possible.

Next: 2017 NFL Draft: A 49ers First-Round Big Board

But that probably won’t be revealed until April 27.