49ers NFL Draft: Tyson Campbell is the perfect target in Round 2

Cornerback may be the 49ers’ most pressing need in the NFL Draft, and Tyson Campbell could be a pick that shores up the future at the position.

With the busy first wave of free agency finished and a feeling of calm is now descending on the NFL landscape, the San Francisco 49ers now look a bit different as it pertains to draft need.

While the offensive line was once a key need (and it’s not out of the question they could look for more help in the trenches), the Niners made their key moves mostly on the line with the signing of center Alex Mack and the big extension of left tackle Trent Williams.

However, the cornerback position, frequently considered one of the biggest areas of need, wasn’t completely addressed by San Francisco as it lost former starter Ahkello Witherspoon to the rival Seattle Seahawks.

It could be argued the offensive line was the biggest need before free agency, it could still be argued a new EDGE is a priority as Dee Ford is injured and Kerry Hyder also defected to the Seahawks, but the cornerback position is probably the No. 1 need right now. Particularly in the wake of the 49ers’ Round 1 blockbuster, which is all but certain to focus on a quarterback.

While logically you would fit your biggest need with your first pick, it doesn’t necessarily work like that.

Luckily, there are plenty of interesting prospects on the second day of the draft who make a lot of sense for San Francisco to pick. Tyson Campbell looks especially like he could be a bargain, given how he showcased a lot of cover skills for Georgia last season.

There’s a lot to like about Campbell and his prospects in the NFL. He passes the eye test at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, and he played fast enough to cover speedy receivers while having the height to take on taller players as well.

Georgia is a good hotbed for NFL talent, and Campbell received some good training with the Bulldogs. He’s refined his ability to jam receivers and plays with good instincts and technique.

There is a possibility Campbell could slip into the back of the first round, but there are some problems that make him a more likely pick for day two.

While Campbell plays with good instincts, he doesn’t have a good nose for picking off the football. He only recorded a single interception at Georgia and is more developed as a solid cover corner as opposed to being a playmaker or ballhawk.

Campbell is a good physical specimen, but he does also lack the sort of twitch and agility to take on speedy NFL receivers in the slot. He projects solely as an outside cornerback as opposed to a more versatile player.

Those flaws aside, however, Campbell has what it takes to be a good corner in the NFL. If he’s available for the 49ers in the second round, he’d be an ideal pick for the team to reboot its secondary.

The only question is will he be there, or will some team fall in love with him and take him before San Francisco has that chance.