San Francisco 49ers: 7-round mock for 2018 NFL Draft, version 2.0

The 49ers need a cornerback to pair with Ahkello Witherspoon next season, and some may argue this is actually the Niners’ top need in 2018.

Again, contingent on free agency, general manager John Lynch might look back to Round 3 to grab a promising prospect with a lot of upside.

UCF’s Mike Hughes has some question marks, notably the lack of experience after transferring over from North Carolina. But he had four interceptions last year, combined with 11 pass breakups, suggesting he has the ability to be a ballhawk defensive back the Niners have lacked for a long, long time.

With the First Pick’s Jon Dove had this to say about Hughes:

"In coverage, Hughes plays with excellent balance and a low pad level. This allows him to easily change direction and keep in-phase with his target. He does a good job locating the football and feeling developing routes. His quick-twitch ability allows him to click and close on the football. Hughes has the balls skills to be a turnover machine at the next level."

Hughes (5-foot-11, 185 pounds) is a bit undersized for the position. But he’s capable of playing on the outside and makes up for his size with a strong presence on the field, essentially playing bigger than he actually is.

There’s a bit of rawness to his game, likely stemming from his lack of experience. So it’s hard to gauge him as a plug-and-play corner. Instead, he’d likely be a strong developmental candidate, capable of taking over starting duties at some point in the middle of 2018.