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San Francisco 49ers: Biggest Winners & Losers from the 2017 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Solomon Thomas (Stanford) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he is selected as the number 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Solomon Thomas (Stanford) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he is selected as the number 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 24, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon (23) intercepts the ball against Oregon Ducks wide receiver Darren Carrington II (7) at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon (23) intercepts the ball against Oregon Ducks wide receiver Darren Carrington II (7) at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports /

Winner: Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon

Round 1 rookies are typically plug-and-play starters. The same could be said of many Round 2 prospects, but third-round guys often find themselves in a backup role their rookie seasons.

That shouldn’t be the case with third-round draftee, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.

Witherspoon was a Niner Noise favorite this draft season, and the 49ers now have themselves a big-bodied (6-foot-3, 198 pounds) defensive back to pair with second-year pro Rashard Robinson.

And there’s no reason to expect anything else but this tandem starting right away in 2017, as Rob Lowder of Niners Wire pointed out:

With defensive back Jimmie Ward likely shifting over to free safety, Witherspoon’s prospects for landing a starting job increase dramatically.

And it isn’t as if the Niners have viable starting options behind him. Most of the depth chart at this position is OK, at best, and nothing more.

So that’s great news for Witherspoon, who can showcase his talents right away.