Niner Noise
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5 players the 49ers should target in Round 3 of the 2019 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Riley Ridley #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter during the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Riley Ridley #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter during the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 15: Justin Layne #39 of the Michigan State Spartans returns an interception for a touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Spartan Stadium on October 15, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 15: Justin Layne #39 of the Michigan State Spartans returns an interception for a touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Spartan Stadium on October 15, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

The 49ers need to spend at least one NFL Draft pick on the secondary this year, particularly after Pro Football Focus ranked this group the worst in the entire league in 2018.

Heck, two defensive backs would be smart in this year’s class.

One of those may wind up being Michigan State cornerback Justin Layne. At 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, Layne embodies what the Niners are seeking in their boundary cover guys, boasting a long and lanky frame, not unlike what the team has in starting corners Richard Sherman and Ahkello Witherspoon.

Witherspoon regressed in 2018, however, and Sherman just turned 31 years old. With both starting potential and depth a concern, a player like Layne could do a lot of good.

Layne hit that 4.50 40-yard threshold at the NFL Scouting Combine. And what he lacks in straight-line speed, Layne makes up for with a solid football IQ — not unlike Sherman, who also displayed that knack for recognizing receivers’ traits and routes early, which helped negate speed concerns.

Plus, Layne has a knack for getting in the way of passes, registering a whopping 15 passes defended for Michigan State last year.

That kind of production would be a welcomed addition for San Francisco’s defense.