SF 49ers: Analyzing experts’ 2021 first-round mock drafts

No. 2: Cornerback Patrick Surtain II to SF 49ers

Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus had a mock draft in which he had the SF 49ers selecting a young cornerback with an NFL pedigree, Patrick Surtain II out of Alabama.

Patrick Surtain Sr. played cornerback for 11 years in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins. He was a Pro Bowl and an All-Pro selection during that time. So one can imagine that Surtain II has some athletic genes.

Surtain II is one of the best cornerbacks in this year’s draft and was a solid three-year starter for the Crimson Tide. He capped off his college career winning the Defensive MVP of the 2021 Rose Bowl and ultimately helping his team win the 2021 CFP National Championship.

Cornerback has been a very iffy position the last two years for San Francisco. In 2019, Richard Sherman had one side of the field locked down. But his counterpart on the other side of the field was not always consistent and it seemed to rotate back and forth between Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Moseley. In 2020, with Sherman injured, Jason Verrett had one side of the field locked down, but there was no consistent help again on the other side of the field.

Needless to say, with Sherman and Verrett both becoming free agents this offseason, cornerback should be a priority in this draft whether it be in the first round or later.

The downside, though, is there is no guarantee that Surtain II will be available at No. 12. He is one of the best, if not the best cornerback in the draft, and could very likely be drafted in the top 10. A number of other mock drafts have had him going as high as No. 4.

So if he’s available at No. 12, the SF 49ers should absolutely draft him, but no guarantees with this pick.