SF 49ers NFL Draft: 5 cornerbacks who would fit well in 2021
By Seth Steere
SF 49ers Option Nos. 1 and 2
Jaycee Horn, University of South Carolina
Perhaps one of the best corners in this year’s NFL Draft, South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn came into the 2020 college football season on a mission. Heading into the year, there were some concerns with his ball production, but he quickly put that concern to rest after racking up two interceptions this season before deciding to opt out and prepare for the draft.
Horn is the son of former New Orleans Saints wide receiver, Joe Horn. Having that background and a father who played in the league will only help the younger Horn to make the transition from the college ranks to the NFL.
At the line of scrimmage, Horn is an absolute bully. He is going to make it as difficult as possible for the receiver to get into his route, which means more sacks for EDGE Nick Bosa and Co. Another thing about Horn is that he is scheme versatile. It’s tough to find the perfect fit at the position with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh likely gone next season, but Horn is a guy who can fit into multiple schemes, man or zone.
| Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
| *2018 | South Carolina | SEC | FR | DB | 11 | 30 | 15 | 45 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2019 | South Carolina | SEC | SO | DB | 12 | 29 | 11 | 40 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2 | |||
| 2020 | South Carolina | SEC | JR | DB | 7 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 34 | 17.0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career | South Carolina | 69 | 32 | 101 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 2 | 34 | 17.0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 2 |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference
Generated 12/15/2020.
Israel Mukuamu, University of South Carolina
Horn’s teammate at South Carolina, Israel Mukuamu, is more of a project than a prospect. But if the Niners decided to find their corner replacement(s) in free agency, Mukuamu would be an excellent guy to pick-up in the middle rounds.
Mukuamu is massive for a corner — he’s listed at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds. It’s not often you get a guy that size and with his athletic ability at the cornerback position. Mukuamu still has a tough time transitioning with the quicker receivers out on the edge, but if San Francisco elects to run a similar coverage scheme in 2021, it will help to mitigate that issue.
You don’t have to be as quick and agile in zone coverage as you do in man.
If Mukuamu doesn’t pan out at the corner, there is a chance you could move him to the safety spot. He plays well with the play in front of him where he can anticipate and jump routes instead of having to follow receivers off the line-of-scrimmage.
| Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
| *2018 | South Carolina | SEC | FR | DB | 5 | 13 | 4 | 17 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 26 | 26.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 2019 | South Carolina | SEC | SO | DB | 12 | 45 | 14 | 59 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 53 | 13.3 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2020 | South Carolina | SEC | JR | DB | 5 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 56 | 28.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career | South Carolina | 64 | 22 | 86 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 135 | 19.3 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference
Generated 12/15/2020.