San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 NFL draft targets after free agency moves
By Peter Panacy
. Cornerback. Gamecocks . Jaycee Horn. 4. player. 850
49ers NFL Draft Target No. 4: Cornerback Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
Despite the re-signings of Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley, the 49ers should still use at least one, preferably two of their nine NFL Draft picks on another cornerback.
At the time of this writing, nickel corner K’Waun Williams remains a free agent. And even if he re-signs, he’s also turning 30 years old this July. Fellow corner Richard Sherman isn’t likely to return, while Ahkello Witherspoon jumped ship for the Seattle Seahawks in free agency.
Plus, Moseley reverted back to a reserve corner last year, while the oft-injured Verrett is only signed through 2022.
Most would consider South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn the No. 3 cornerback behind fellow corners Patrick Surtain II out of Alabama and Caleb Farley from Virginia Tech, who could swap places for the top cornerback selected on draft day.
Horn will likely be available at No. 12 overall, though, and some could argue the 6-foot-1 defensive back is more physical and fluid than the other two.
Considering cornerback depth is arguably still the Niners’ top need despite free agency moves, putting a player like Horn on this list is a must.