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San Francisco 49ers: Post-Super Bowl 7-round mock NFL Draft

By Aaron Tan

DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 05: Shaun Wilson #29 of the Duke Blue Devils leaps for extra yardage against Tremaine Edmunds #49 of the Virginia Tech Hokies at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 05: Shaun Wilson #29 of the Duke Blue Devils leaps for extra yardage against Tremaine Edmunds #49 of the Virginia Tech Hokies at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Javon Wims #6 of the Georgia Bulldogs makes a catch against Anthony Averett #28 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Javon Wims #6 of the Georgia Bulldogs makes a catch against Anthony Averett #28 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Round 3, Pick No. 10: Cornerback Anthony Averett

Underrated. That’s the best word you could use to describe Alabama cornerback Anthony Averett.

Averett was a huge part of leading Alabama to a National Championship win this season. He served as the Crimson Tide’s No. 1 cornerback and consistently shut down opposing wide receivers.

When you watch Averett play, it’s like watching someone play offense against an All-Madden level defense. In case you didn’t know, playing against All-Madden defense is like having the corners stick to the receivers like Super Glue. Receivers do not get open against All-Madden defense.

Averett is All-Madden defense.

The downside to Averett is that he is relatively small for a corner at 6-foot-0 and 185 pounds. His frame could be easily taken advantage of by big receivers, but his coverage skills and instincts as a cornerback are too good. It may be harder for him when tasked with covering tall receivers, but I believe that he will find a way to shut them down.

The 49ers desperately need cornerbacks. Dontae Johnson will most likely become a free agent, which leaves San Francisco with Ahkello Witherspoon and… nobody else at outside corner.

Averett would complete the secondary and make opposing quarterbacks hard to pass on the steadily improving unit.