San Francisco 49ers: Ranking top 3 defensive needs ahead of NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
No. 1: Cornerback
There are two givens for San Francisco at cornerback entering 2020: Richard Sherman will start on the left side, and K’Waun Williams will be the starter over the slot in nickel formations.
On the other boundary, Emmanuel Moseley looks to be the favorite over San Francisco’s 2017 third-round NFL Draft pick, Ahkello Witherspoon. For the most part, aside from his major gaffe in Super Bowl LIV, Moseley handled himself well in a starting role. Yet it’s still premature to suggest he’s locked down the starting job.
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Yet things get dicey after this upcoming season.
Sherman’s three-year contract runs out in 2021. Williams and Witherspoon will also be unrestricted free agents, while Moseley will be a restricted free agent. So even though one can understand why the 49ers don’t necessarily need a starting-caliber cornerback in this year’s draft, it’s foolish to think they won’t consider taking one early anyway.
Particularly for the long-term needs.
It’s important to remember defensive backs often need a couple of seasons to successfully make the transition from the college ranks to the pros. Wide receivers at the NFL level are bigger and faster, and the routes those pass catchers run are far more complex.
Because of this, landing a cornerback in this year’s draft and letting him develop into a potential starter should be high on the team’s priority list.
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The 2020 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 23.