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2020 NFL Draft: 49ers can target these 3 cornerbacks in Round 1

By Peter Panacy

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 13: A.J. Terrell #8 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates a defensive stop against the LSU Tigers during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 13: A.J. Terrell #8 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates a defensive stop against the LSU Tigers during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /
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C.J. Henderson, Florida, Justin Jefferson, LSU
Justin Jefferson of the LSU Tigers against C.J. Henderson #5 of the Florida Gators (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers are rumored to be looking at wide receivers and cornerbacks in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft. If so, here are three on-radar defensive backs for the red and gold.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller reported the San Francisco 49ers are looking at both wide receivers and cornerbacks early in the 2020 NFL Draft, then potentially using their second of two first-round picks (No. 31 overall) as a trade-down piece, according to league sources.

Miller’s exact verbiage:

"Two picks in the first round could add much more firepower to an already good roster, but many league sources expect the 49ers to attempt to trade back from No. 31 overall after targeting a top wide receiver or cornerback at No. 13."

The part about wide receivers isn’t surprising. After losing veteran wideout Emmanuel Sanders to the New Orleans Saints in free agency, San Francisco essentially has just two proven options at the position: Deebo Samuel and Kendrick Bourne.

And the No. 13 overall pick puts the 49ers into prime position to select either Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, or Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy or Henry Ruggs III right in the middle of Round 1.

Yet the cornerback needs shouldn’t be too shocking, either. Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon and K’Waun Williams are all poised to be free agents in 2021, and the Niners could be seeking upgrades over Witherspoon and Emmanuel Moseley this season anyway.

Like wide receiver, albeit not quite as much, the 2020 cornerback class is awfully deep, and there are good-quality options to be had later in the draft, too.

But if Miller’s report is right, it wouldn’t be shocking to see San Francisco go with a corner at some point in Round 1.

If so, these three prospects are likely on the Niners radar.