49ers: 3 sleeper targets for Round 2 pick in 2021 NFL Draft

The 49ers are all but guaranteed to take a quarterback in Round 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft, but the second round has a number of possibilities.

Barring something both shocking and unexpected, the San Francisco 49ers are going to select a quarterback with their first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, No. 3 overall.

The Niners didn’t trade two additional first-round picks, going along with their own Round 1 selection (No. 12 overall), to the Miami Dolphins for any other reason. While there are other non-quarterback prospects who’d be worth evaluating with the third overall pick, this move is essentially a franchise-altering trade by general manager John Lynch and Co. with the full intent of finding a long-term option under center.

But that’s all just Round 1.

San Francisco still has a number of other needs to address, both for the immediate future and over the long run. And the second round will be the point where Lynch and the front office start to make the moves to bolster other areas of the roster.

Currently, the 49ers own the 11th pick in Round 2, No. 43 overall, and there are a multitude of different approaches the team could have with its first non-quarterback selection of this year’s draft.

A cornerback would make sense, given the Niners retained two of their three starters here solely on one-year deals. Perhaps a wide receiver, too, would make some sense.

But let’s think a bit out of the box and identify some dark-horse NFL Draft prospects San Francisco might be eyeing in the second round, breaking down the reasons why those players could be on the 49ers’ radar.