49ers NFL Draft: 5 positions to address after free agency
By Peter Panacy
49ers NFL Draft Need No. 2: Cornerback
Like the strong safety spot, the 49ers made strides elsewhere in the secondary to alleviate some of the concerns they had entering free agency, namely bringing back Jason Verrett while also retaining depth cornerbacks like Emmanuel Moseley and Dontae Johnson.
But with veteran corners Richard Sherman and K’Waun Williams departing in free agency, combined with Verrett’s lengthy injury history prior to his bounce-back 2020 campaign, it would be absolutely shocking if John Lynch and Co. passed up on chances to add at least one starting-caliber corner in this year’s NFL Draft.
Heck, one could argue the Niners should have made this a priority a season ago, considering the maturation process needed for young defensive backs.
The 2021 draft isn’t as deep at cornerback as it was last year, and those with starter’s talent are generally slated towards the top.
Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley and Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II are widely viewed as the top contenders for the first corner to be selected on draft day, while South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn is in the running for the other first-round cornerback to be selected.
From Round 2 and onward, the bulk of cornerbacks have some notable question marks.
Here are a few names to watch on days two and three of the draft:
- Tyson Campbell, Georgia
- Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State
- Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse
- Eric Stokes, Georgia
- Paulson Adebo, Stanford
- Shaun Wade, Ohio State
- Camryn Bynum, Cal