2019 NFL Draft: 5 options for the 49ers’ Round 2 pick
By Peter Panacy
It might be a bit premature to suggest the 49ers are ready to give up on cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon and/or Tarvarius Moore after both had disappointing seasons last year.
Both are still developing, and it isn’t uncommon to see young defensive backs struggle their first few years at the NFL level. That said, however, the Niners do need to start thinking about an eventual long-term replacement for veteran cornerback Richard Sherman, who’ll turn 31 years old this offseason and has two years left on his current contract.
If San Francisco is looking at its secondary as the next biggest weakness behind its pass rush, Clemson cornerback Trayvon Mullen seems to be a perfect fit for boundary duties.
At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Mullen looks the part of an outside corner in defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s Cover 3 scheme. Mullen is long, lanky and, as The Draft Network pointed out, thrives in both press and zone coverages — staples of Saleh’s system.
Mullen was outstanding in Clemson’s victory over Alabama in the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship game, too.
Looking like a solid Round 2 pick in this year’s NFL Draft, don’t be surprised if the Niners elect to find their next long-term contributor to help out the beleaguered secondary.