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San Francisco 49ers: Possible trade-up, trade-down targets for the NFL Draft

By Jeremy Wohlfart

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: A detailed view of the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: A detailed view of the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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Pick No.4 to No.9: Quenton Nelson, Guard, Notre Dame

My very first article was pretty much a love letter for Notre Dame offensive guard Quenton Nelson’s play, I ranked the interior line the second biggest area to upgrade and, in terms of who the best football player is in the draft, this year I firmly believe Nelson is second only to Barkley. In short, this is an obvious trade-up I would be very happy with.

More from SF 49ers Draft

ESPN’s Mel Kiper and CBS Sports’ R.J. White mocked Nelson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 7 (h/t Bonnie Mott of Bucs Wire), so it’s possible the 49ers will have to move up for him.

White had this to say about Nelson:

"The Buccaneers need to upgrade several spots on their offensive line, and while left tackle is arguably a bigger need, Nelson is the best offensive line prospect in this class and well worth selecting in the top 10. He’s the type of prospect that isn’t going to bring a lot of excitement to a franchise but about as unlikely to turn into a bust as anyone after dominating top-tier talent at the collegiate level."

Safe to say White feels the same way that I do.

MADISON, WI – NOVEMBER 11: Joshua Jackson #15 of the Iowa Hawkeyes intercepts a pass intended for A.J. Taylor #4 of the Wisconsin Badgers and returns it for a touchdown during the first quarter of a game at Camp Randall Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI – NOVEMBER 11: Joshua Jackson #15 of the Iowa Hawkeyes intercepts a pass intended for A.J. Taylor #4 of the Wisconsin Badgers and returns it for a touchdown during the first quarter of a game at Camp Randall Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

They could also consider

In my ranking of the Niners needs, I ranked cornerback as the top need, stating:

"It’s no secret the NFL is now a passing league first and foremost. As a result, teams need at the very least a trio of good corners to have a chance to counter the best passing attacks. Ahkello Witherspoon got better as the year went on, and K’Waun Williams is a solid third cornerback for the defense. But the Niners need someone across from Witherspoon. Dontae Johnson is not the answer."

The Malcolm Butler situation with the New England Patriots is going to be of immense interest to the Niners. We may never get a full answer to what truly happened for him to be benched before the Super Bowl, but could it be a thing that scares teams off?

If so, then we could see Iowa’s Joshua Jackson become a possible target for the 49ers. Walter Football writer Charlie Campbell had this to say about the Iowa corner after mocking him at No. 8 to the Chicago Bears:

"Jackson (6-1, 192) enjoyed an excellent 2017 as a dangerous ballhawk for the Hawkeyes. He put an exclamation point on the year with a three-interception game against Ohio State. For the season, Jackson recorded 48 tackles with 18 passes broken up and eight interceptions. He has a good size for the NFL with length and athleticism. His timed speed will be important, and some team sources believe that Jackson will run well in the leadup to the 2018 NFL Draft."

The Niners are in the market to find a starter across from Ahkello Witherspoon, and Joshua Jackson could give the Niners a young, potent tandem.