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5 dark-horse prospects the 49ers could grab in Round 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 09: Andraez Williams #29 of the LSU Tigers celebrates an interception with Ed Paris #21 during the first half of a game against the Chattanooga Mocs at Tiger Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 09: Andraez Williams #29 of the LSU Tigers celebrates an interception with Ed Paris #21 during the first half of a game against the Chattanooga Mocs at Tiger Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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BATON ROUGE, LA – SEPTEMBER 09: Andraez Williams #29 of the LSU Tigers breaks up a pass against Alphonso Stewart #9 of the Chattanooga Mocs during the first half of a game at Tiger Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA – SEPTEMBER 09: Andraez Williams #29 of the LSU Tigers breaks up a pass against Alphonso Stewart #9 of the Chattanooga Mocs during the first half of a game at Tiger Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Forgive me where it was, as I can’t remember, but I do recall a respected NFL Draft analyst mocking LSU cornerback Greedy Williams to the 49ers with their first pick of 2019.

Talk of a Williams-to-San Francisco move has simmered down quite a bit since then, but the nature of the context is still quite similar. For starters, this year’s draft class is still awfully deep with pass-rushers and not nearly as deep at cornerback. So, if you’re of the mindset the Niners table their pass-rushing needs until Round 2, envisioning Williams being the pick isn’t entirely out of the question.

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Williams is widely seen as the best overall corner coming out in 2019. And LSU has a long history of pushing out top-tier defensive backs. It’s not likely he slips out of the top five, and falling out of the top 10 would have to involve some massive collapse during the NFL Scouting Combine or something along those lines.

Cornerback is a need for San Francisco, too.

Sure, the 49ers still have veteran corner Richard Sherman employed the next two seasons. And they invested two third-round picks in Ahkello Witherspoon and Tarvarius Moore in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Both could wind up being starting-caliber players. Or both may end up being little more than rotational pieces. It’s hard to say.

Either way, Williams’ 6-foot-2, 182-pound frame is the ideal body type for San Francisco’s Cover 3 defense.

So, if San Francisco is putting a premium on defensive backs early in the draft, don’t be shocked if Williams is the selection.

Next. 5 reasons the 49ers are playoff contenders in 2019. dark

The 2019 NFL Draft kicks off on April 25 from Nashville, Tennessee.