2020 NFL Draft: 3 Round 1 prospects 49ers hope fall to No. 31
By Peter Panacy
Safety. Crimson Tide . Xavier McKinney. 1. player. 829.
If there’s one player the 49ers absolutely hope falls to No. 31 overall in Round 1, it’s Alabama safety Xavier McKinney.
Earlier in 2019, LSU’s Grant Delpit was widely seen as the top safety prospect in this year’s class. But McKinney has taken over that accolade, likely going in the late teens or early 20s. Another team could even make him a pick in the first half of the round, too, considering his perennial-Pro Bowl potential.
More from SF 49ers Draft
- 49ers 2023 NFL Draft tracker: Pick-by-pick news and analysis
- Predicting 49ers NFL Draft picks by looking at final mocks
- DraftKings NFL Draft Promo – Win $150 Guaranteed on Any $5 Bet
- 2023 NFL Draft: EDGE Byron Young could be impact player for 49ers
- 5 low-key NFL Draft options for 49ers who are flying under the radar
San Francisco has a pressing need at the position anyway, checking off that box. The team’s free safety starter last season, Jimmie Ward, experienced a career year in 2019. That’ll likely earn him around $8 million annually on his next free-agent contract, which could push him beyond the cap-stressed 49ers’ comfort range.
Even if the Niners re-signed Ward, his injury history suggests moving on might be the better option anyway.
McKinney might not have elite-level speed, but his in-game speed is excellent enough. And he’s rarely out of position, and it’s hard to find instances where he makes mental mistakes en route to giving up big plays.
Those attributes are highly important in a single-high defensive scheme.
Next. 2020 NFL Draft: 3 late-round wide receivers 49ers can target. dark
McKinney falling to No. 31 is a likely long shot. But there’s always the chance he winds up being available when the 49ers’ number is called on Thursday, April 23 when Round 1 of the draft kicks off.