49ers 2020 NFL Draft needs: 3 perfect fits in Round 7

The 49ers could look early in the draft to replace now-Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, which would somewhat negate the need to add defensive line depth later.

That said, the Niners currently don’t have an adequate option to back up their current nose tackle, D.J. Jones, who is returning from a season-ending ankle injury suffered late last year. Jones, who flashed some solid interior pass-rushing abilities in 2019, could see himself in much more prominent a role than a traditional run-stopping 1-technique, which opens up the possibility for San Francisco to target such a player late on draft day.

If Ole Miss’ Josiah Coatney falls into Round 7, there you go.

Coatney, 6-foot-3 and 308 pounds, fits the mold for what defensive coordinator likes in his nose tackles: short and squatty. He can play a number of positions along the D-line, which is always a bonus, but he projects best to be a 1-technique for base run-stopping formations. Although he did flash a little pass-rush potential with 6.5 sacks over his three college years.

Should the Niners put more emphasis on playing Jones frequently, finding an identical-type backup suddenly becomes much a bigger priority.

Coatney can help solve that.