49ers 2019 mock NFL Draft: What if San Francisco trades down in Round 1?

So much of what the 49ers do with their second pick in the NFL Draft will hinge on the team’s actions in free agency.

One of the big names, of course, is Seattle Seahawks pending free agent safety Earl Thomas, who is widely viewed to be the Niners’ top target this offseason. But Thomas won’t come cheap, and he’ll surely have his fair share of suitors for 2019.

Let’s assume San Francisco doesn’t land Thomas, either because the team isn’t comfortable with shelling out big bucks for a player who’ll be north of 30 years old this upcoming season and coming off a serious injury, or he simply winds up signing elsewhere. Then what?

Well, the good news is there’s a nice contingency plan, which Niner Noise already described earlier. His name? Delaware safety Nasir Adderley:

"Adderley, whose 5-foot-11 and 200-pound frame draws some shade to Earl Thomas, could be a player to watch if he falls into the second round. Adderley has a lot of the sideline-to-sideline traits Thomas perfected over the years, and one could argue the small-school Adderley’s instincts are among the best among this year’s NFL Draft."

In many ways, Adderley is looking a lot like Thomas did when he emerged as a top prospect. So, if the 49ers were unable to grab the perennial Pro Bowl veteran, finding a younger and cheaper option with the same trajectory is never a bad idea.