SF 49ers: 5 cornerbacks who could replace Richard Sherman in 2021

No. 1: Jaycee Horn, South Carolina Gamecocks

I know what you may be thinking: Jaycee Horn over Patrick Surtain?

Well, yeah.

San Francisco 49ers

Horn’s frame (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and game are as pro-ready as any player in the draft. Horn, much like Surtain, has an NFL pedigree. His father, Joe, had a solid 12-year NFL career as a wide receiver, so Jaycee Horn’s development, much like Surtain’s, was honed with a professional career in mind.

While the main concern for Horn is in his tackling, it is not from a lack of effort. It is an area where he should improve with NFL-level coaching. In fact, what may separate Horn from Surtain is the physicality and edge he plays with.

He has very little wasted motion while mirroring receivers, and his physicality and ball skills are phenomenal and show up on film.

The SF 49ers secondary has benefited from having the veteran leadership and skill set of Richard Sherman to mentor their younger players. That role may be passed on to Jason Verrett or Emmanuel Moseley, or both, should one or both be brought back next season.

Even if they return, however, it’s a near-certainty the Niners will supplement their re-signings with drafting additional players to replenish the secondary.

With Verrett’s injury history and Moseley’s inconsistency, it would behoove them to create as much depth as they can.

However John Lynch and the front office choose to address the defensive secondary this offseason, there will definitely be some new faces back there in 2021.