4 cornerbacks from NFL Draft 49ers could pair with Richard Sherman
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)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/163750624a5d3934c327324ecb73a11367043de8aac85446696bd70b8632b093.jpg)
A.J. Terrell. 2. player. 879. . Cornerback. Tigers
We’re getting into the corners who look more the part of what San Francisco prioritizes in its cornerbacks: the long, lanky type who can play in zone schemes.
While the last memories of Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell getting abused by LSU during the College Football Playoff National Championship game weren’t pretty, the overwhelming reality is Terrell put together quite the season in 2019, which ended up producing 34 tackles, two interceptions and three passes defended.
For most of the year, opposing quarterbacks weren’t too keen on targeting Terrell, as he had a knack for mostly sticking with his receiver through the most difficult portions of the route.
As far as football IQ goes, it’s there. Terrell has excellent instincts. Despite what happened versus LSU, he’s usually on top of recovery and rarely lets his receiver get the best of him by creating a ton of space.
Being 6-foot-1, 195 pounds and with 31 1/4-inch arms, Terrell’s body shape also fits the mold.
Terrell is one of those fringe players likely available towards the end of Round 1, perhaps slipping a bit into Round 2.
Yet for San Francisco, which could use another shutdown-type corner, Terrell would seem to be a solid pickup at No. 31 overall.