Niner Noise
FanSided

49ers’ 7-round dark-horse prospect mock 2019 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays an image of Mike McGlinchey of Notre Dame after he was picked #9 overall by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays an image of Mike McGlinchey of Notre Dame after he was picked #9 overall by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
CHAPEL HILL, NC – OCTOBER 28: Michael Jackson #28 of the Miami Hurricanes intercepts a pass intended for Anthony Ratliff-Williams #17 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Miami won 24-19. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – OCTOBER 28: Michael Jackson #28 of the Miami Hurricanes intercepts a pass intended for Anthony Ratliff-Williams #17 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Miami won 24-19. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

While there’s a good deal of depth for the 49ers in the secondary, it’s a unit Pro Football Focus still ranked dead last after 2018 was complete. Sure, defensive backs Adrian Colbert and Ahkello Witherspoon regressed after promising rookie 2017 campaigns, and either/both could bounce back this season.

That said, some long-term developmental depth should be needed at the boundary spot, especially considering veteran corner Richard Sherman just turned 31 years old.

As far as what the 49ers do, defensively, Miami’s Michael Jackson would make a lot of sense as a late-round prospect.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds with 32.5-inch arms, Jackson looks the part of a Cover 3 zone cornerback. He ran a 4.45 40-yard time at the NFL Scouting Combine, too, which should keep him in the conversation for becoming an eventual starter after a few years’ development.

If that goes well, the Niners can always consider an eventual outside starting tandem between Witherspoon and Jackson, knowing they at least have some depth there entering 2019.