49ers land Florida State defensive back Derwin James in FanSided’s latest mock NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers are coming away with Florida State defensive back Derwin James in FanSided’s latest 2018 NFL Draft mock. Niner Noise breaks down the would-be selection.
The opening wave of free agency is over, and the San Francisco 49ers and the rest of the NFL has started to shift its attention to the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft in late April.
So it’s only natural you’ll see plenty of mock drafts out there this time of year, and Brad Weiss over at FanSided recently released another Round 1 mock with plenty of what you’d expect in the top 10.
At No. 9 overall, Weiss has Florida State defensive back Derwin James going to San Francisco. Here’s what he had to say about the selection:
"The team needs a lot of help in the secondary, and they may be able to get a guy like Derwin James at No. 9 overall. James is a very versatile prospect, and had he not gotten hurt in 2016, he may be a top-5 pick this year.James not only played safety at Florida State, but also cornerback, while being the top return man in school history. The 49ers are doing a nice job building up this roster, and James could be a game-changer at the next level."
San Francisco 49ers
This isn’t the first time James has been mocked to the Niners. Last October, Pro Football Focus suggested the same move for S.F. That was, of course, before the 49ers signed veteran cornerback Richard Sherman to a three-year deal.
Sherman may not be a long-term option, though, so the move makes sense. But is it truly the No. 1 best fit at No. 9 overall?
Why the Selection Doesn’t Make Sense
Let’s get the negatives out of the way first. The Niners appear to be set at safety, boasting three starting-caliber players — Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt and Adrian Colbert — at this position. This surplus is likely the prime reason San Francisco let veteran safety Eric Reid walk in free agency.
James could be an upgrade over any of those three, but even the secondary might not be the biggest need the Niners have. That’s likely the pass rush, where the 49ers ranked 26th in the league last season with just 30 sacks.
Cornerback was right up there before the Sherman deal. And while there may be concerns with Sherman’s surgically repaired Achilles, as well as the fact he’ll turn 30 years old later this month, the need at corner isn’t quite as pressing as it was before.
Why the Selection Makes Sense
There’s always the notion teams should simply draft the best player available and sort out the depth chart later.
If that’s the case here, James is a smart pickup. He’s easily a top-10 talent. And while the need for secondary improvements isn’t quite as glaring, it’s never a bad idea to land a true playmaker when you can get one.
James is just that. And while the immediate need doesn’t seem apparent, the long-term landscape is less clear.
Ward is playing on his fifth-year option and has landed on injured reserve in three of his first four years at the pro level. Tartt also enters a contract year, and there are the health/age concerns Sherman brings with him.
Do the 49ers Actually Go This Route?
Well, the obvious answer is we won’t know until draft day.
An edge rusher is still likely the team’s top need during the NFL Draft. But this year’s class of edge rushers isn’t quite that deep. The top prospect here, NC State’s Bradley Chubb, probably won’t slip past pass-rush needy teams like the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The No. 2 pass-rusher is Boston College’s Harold Landry, but he might be a bit of a reach with the ninth overall pick.
It’s possible San Francisco puts off its pass-rushing needs until 2019, meaning the James-to-the-49ers scenario is more plausible.
But one thing is for certain. James is already on Niners mock-draft radars out there, and it wouldn’t be a shocker to see the team use their first pick on this playmaker.
Next: Rethinking 49ers' NFL Draft big board after free agency
The 2018 NFL Draft commences on Apr. 26 from AT&T Stadium.