49ers trade Jimmy Garoppolo in this 7-round mock NFL Draft

Round 5, Pick No. 180 (Compensatory): 49ers select cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, Minnesota

Yes, the 49ers would still be wise to continue their stockpiling of defensive backs after essentially avoiding this group entirely back in 2020.

Getting into the deeper rounds of the NFL Draft, though, it’s going to be more about depth and finding players who fill those proverbial “diamonds in the rough” status.

And there are few who qualify more than Minnesota cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, the Canadian-born prospect who could be one of many sleepers from the Great White North coming out in this year’s draft.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound St-Juste isn’t overly flashy or fast, and he had just one pass breakup last year after recording 10 back in 2019. But the lack of speed could be absorbed somewhat by his size and full immersion into a zone-style system.

Remember, Richard Sherman was never a fast cornerback, rather he used his football smarts, strength and positioning to be one of the best defensive backs of the last decade.

Now, St-Juste might not be on that trajectory. But he’d be more than worth a developmental flier, giving him the chance to secure a spot down on the Niners’ cornerbacking depth chart, potentially working his way up to a spot perimeter starter if need be.