49ers: Far-too-soon mock 2021 NFL Draft for San Francisco

San Francisco 49ers: Far-too-soon mock 2021 NFL Draft

BERKELEY, CA - DECEMBER 01: Cornerback Paulson Adebo #11 of the Stanford Cardinal intercepts a pass intended for wide receiver Vic Wharton III #17 of the California Golden Bears during the fourth quarter at California Memorial Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Berkeley, California. The Stanford Cardinal defeated the California Golden Bears 23-13. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /

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Paulson Adebo #11 of the Stanford Cardinal (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images) /

871. . Cornerback. Cardinal . Paulson Adebo. 31. player

Cornerback could have been viewed as one of San Francisco’s top needs in the 2020 NFL Draft, yet John Lynch elected to punt on this budding problem for the time being.

There are problems with this approach, though.

For starters, veteran corners Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon and K’Waun Williams are all entering contract years. Sherman, the bona fide starter, will also turn 33 years old before the start of the 2021 season, and one has to think the time is coming when the 49ers would be wise to find a younger, cheaper replacement.

Lynch has plenty of connections with Stanford, of course, so it wouldn’t be a shock to go after one of the top corners projected for next year’s NFL Draft, Paulson Adebo.

At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Adebo has the long-limbed stature the Niners have long coveted for their boundary cornerbacks. Adebo has also recorded four interceptions in each of the last two years, and another follow-up campaign with the Cardinal could end up pushing Adebo higher up away from the fringes of Rounds 1 and 2.

If he slips to the Niners’ first pick, however, don’t be shocked if this is the pick Lynch makes.