5 cornerbacks 49ers can target on Day 2 of 2021 NFL Draft

49ers Cornerback Target No. 2: Greg Newsome II, Northwestern

It’s not totally clear just yet, but one would believe first-year defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans will continue San Francisco’s tradition of using long, lanky corners to fill out the secondary, particularly on the boundary.

While Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley don’t line up with this ilk, one potential target to replace either on the boundary over the long term is Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome II.

Newsome’s 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame looks much more solid than Eric Stokes’ build, and the former certainly plays with much more aggression and physicality, which helped him achieve 20 pass breakups over three collegiate seasons.

Yet the problem, however, is Newsome’s aggressive play style has led to numerous injuries, and he appeared in just 17 games over that span.

That might be a risk the 49ers don’t want to take, but Newsome is more than fluid and aggressive to suggest he can be a quality boundary cornerback at the next level. If the Niners are willing to bank on Newsome staying healthy, he’d be a solid add in Round 2 and an absolute steal if he falls deep into Round 3.