San Francisco 49ers: 5 Round 1 prospect targets in 2020 NFL Draft

49ers NFL Draft Target No. 3: CB Shaun Wade

One of San Francisco’s biggest concerns in 2021 is going to be the makeup of the secondary. Defensive backs Richard Sherman, K’Waun Williams, Emmanuel Moseley, Ahkello Witherspoon and Jaquiski Tartt are all pending free agents, and it’s going to be extremely difficult for the 49ers to retain all of them.

Perhaps any of them.

One could make the argument Williams, the Niners’ top nickel cornerback, is the priority re-sign. It’s a solid bet. But if for whatever reason San Francisco thought to reinforce with a younger, cheaper player, Ohio State’s Shaun Wade could fit the bill.

At 6-foot-1 and 194 pounds, Wade has the body type for boundary duties, although he primarily operated over the slot back in 2019. He has some ballhawk abilities, notably from his three interceptions his freshman year, and one could also fairly state Wade has the proverbial “dog” mentality, too.

That’s always a plus for defensive backs.

But what stands out the most is the versatility. Wade could be a player capable of occupying multiple spots in the defensive backfield, which sure would shore up any concerns of a number of those aforementioned veterans leaving this offseason.