What will 49ers do with first NFL Draft pick after free agency?
By Peter Panacy
Do 49ers use first NFL Draft pick on a cornerback?
Yes, Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley are back. That’s good news, and both players can play boundary positions with Moseley also having experience at nickel, which guards against a still-realistic free-agent departure of cornerback K’Waun Williams.
But San Francisco’s cornerback depth chart remains questionable. Presumably, right now, Tim Harris is the No. 3 option on the roster, and he has seen only special teams snaps over his two-year span at the pro level. Verrett also has a lengthy injury history, which despite being fully healthy in 2020, included seeing just six regular-season games between 2016 and 2019.
Moseley is signed through 2022, and that helps. But Verrett returned on a one-year deal only. And with four-year cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon jumping ship in NFL free agency for the Seattle Seahawks, it’s pretty clear the 49ers will need to pay attention to this spot early, potentially often in the NFL Draft.
Related Story. Patrick Surtain II is the draft pick 49ers need to make. light
There are three first-round corners to consider here:
- Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
- Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
- Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
Of the trio, Surtain has been mentioned quite a lot, although it’s a tossup between him and Farley to be the top corner selected on draft day.
With Trent Williams re-signed, though, the Niners are going to be in a position where they can do something they haven’t done under John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan yet.
Use a first- or even a second-round pick on a corner.