Niner Noise
FanSided

2019 Senior Bowl: 5 prospects 49ers should watch

By Peter Panacy

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 28: Kareem Hunt #33 of the North team runs with the ball as Duke Riley #0 of the South team defends during the second half of the Reese's Senior Bowl at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 28: Kareem Hunt #33 of the North team runs with the ball as Duke Riley #0 of the South team defends during the second half of the Reese's Senior Bowl at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 26: Nasir Adderley #23 of the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens tackles Quinshad Davis #14 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 41-14. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 26: Nasir Adderley #23 of the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens tackles Quinshad Davis #14 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 41-14. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Safety Nasir Adderley, Delaware (North)

Like linebacker, safety is certainly towards the top of the 49ers needs this offseason. Even if San Francisco winds up signing a well-known name, like the Seattle Seahawks’ Earl Thomas, in free agency, it wouldn’t be a shock to see some additional stockpiling during the NFL Draft.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

One name to watch here is Delaware safety Nasir Adderley. At 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, Adderley’s relatively undersized frame could push him down into the late stages of Round 2 or, perhaps, even into Round 3.

That’s a bonus for San Francisco, though, which will likely use one of its day two picks to address the secondary.

What isn’t up for question is Adderley’s speed. He has excellent sideline-to-sideline coverage abilities, which is a necessity for the Niners’ Cover 3, single-high safety defense. The 49ers struggled with this a year ago, and Adderley at least possesses the potential to be a nice fit if a Thomas deal never pans out.

And despite his smallish frame, Adderley doesn’t appear to shy away from physicality in tackling and big hits over the middle.

That’s a major bonus.