49ers 2020 NFL Draft preview: Secondary should be No. 1 need

The San Francisco 49ers are rightfully looking at wide receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft. But with some pressing short- and long-term questions, the secondary shouldn’t be overlooked.

If one were to point out the San Francisco 49ers‘ two weakest positions coming off their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV, the answer would most likely be wide receiver and cornerback.

You can swap the needs for No. 1 on the team’s list if you want. And with two picks in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft, it might not matter to the Niners anyway. General manager John Lynch can use the first pick on one position, then the next pick to grab a reinforcement for the other.

Yet one thing that could ultimately sway the difference in favor of the secondary is the fact that, while still pretty deep, cornerback is nowhere close to the depth in the draft at wide receiver this season. And safety depth is even worse in this year’s class. There are some top-tier options at all three positions in Round 1, where San Francisco is slated to pick at Nos. 13 and 31 overall.

But with zero picks between Rounds 2 and 4, currently, the situation gets a little trickier barring a trade down.

With that being the case, let’s make an argument for why Lynch and Co. should put a high priority on looking at the secondary in the upcoming draft.

49ers needs in the secondary

No. 1 cornerback Richard Sherman is coming off a Pro Bowl year, which is great. But he’s also entering a contract year and just turned 32 years old. It’s anyone’s guess right now if he fits into San Francisco’s long-term plans beyond 2020.

It wouldn’t be too bad if the Niners had likable options to replace him on the boundary. Yet it’s too soon to suggest the former undrafted free agent, Emmanuel Moseley, is primed to be a full-time starter despite holding his own well enough for the vast majority of 2019 and into the playoffs.

Likewise, fellow corner Ahkello Witherspoon and nickel back K’Waun Williams are also entering the final year of their respective contracts.

Shifting over to safety and despite re-signing Jimmie Ward, the 49ers also have to look at strong safety Jaquiski Tartt entering a contract year, too.

See the point? The secondary is a massively growing question mark.

49ers actions in NFL free agency

Bringing back Ward on a lucrative deal was a big plus. Still, it’s important to remember he’s finished on injured reserve in four of his six seasons at the pro level. He’s also coming off a career-best 2019 campaign, so it prompts the question about whether or not it’s a sign of things to come or just a mere overreach.

Let’s hope for the former.

San Francisco also re-signed depth corners Dontae Johnson and Jason Verrett to one-year deals. Neither played significant roles last season, and one should only consider them camp bodies with a longshot chance of making the 55-man roster this season.

Need in the NFL Draft

Well, it’s pretty high.

As far as the immediate term, getting someone to potentially pair with Sherman on the outside could be a massive bonus. After all, it was Moseley who gave up the big fourth-quarter play in the Super Bowl, which ultimately led to the Chiefs victory.

One shouldn’t judge Moseley’s future based on one play, of course. Yet that doesn’t change the long-term needs stemming from so many other current Niners hitting contract years. Considering San Francisco is no longer one of those teams boasting loads of cap space, re-signing all of its pending 2021 free agents is going to be a tall order.

NFL Draft outlook

As far as corners go, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the 49ers target someone like Florida’s C.J. Henderson at No. 13 overall. Alabama’s Trevon Diggs, TCU’s Jeff Gladney and Clemson’s A.J. Terrell are among those who could be available for San Francisco’s second pick.

For safety, Alabama’s Xavier McKinney is a player worth watching. He’s the best at his position in this class, yet he could be had around the middle of Round 1.

Perhaps the Niners consider him as a boundary or nickel corner, too.

If San Francisco can somehow land day-two picks via a trade, keep an eye out on Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield Jr. He’s a bit undersized, but the playmaking skills are phenomenal, and the 49ers could use a rover like him on the back end.

Simply put, however, there are far too many long-term needs for the 49ers to completely avoid addressing the secondary early. Considering how often defensive backs struggle in their initial transition from the college ranks to the pros, it would be wise for the Niners to make a key pickup for this part of the field sooner than later.