49ers NFL Draft 2021: Ranking the final 4 top needs

49ers NFL Draft Need No. 1: Cornerback

It’s a small miracle the Niners were able to retain three of their four starting-caliber cornerbacks this offseason, Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley and K’Waun Williams. And while the veteran, Richard Sherman, remains a free agent, one shouldn’t automatically rule out the possibility of him returning on a cheap one-year deal.

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The problem, though, is Verrett and Williams are both back solely on one-year deals. Moseley has also bounced back and forth on the starting lineup.

Injuries have also been a problem. Williams missed eight games in 2020. And while Verrett enjoyed a relatively healthy campaign last season, the fact he played just six regular-season games between 2016 and 2019 is a mark for concern heading into this year.

Even if Verrett and Williams stay fully healthy again, there’s plenty of room for a quality young cornerback to begin his maturation process right now.

San Francisco passed on adding a cornerback in last year’s NFL Draft, meaning that one full year of development turned into a missed opportunity.

Considering most defensive backs often go through growing pains early after being selected, it would be a near-must for the 49ers to use one of their early picks on a cornerback to get that player up to speed with the potential upside of emerging as a starter right out of the gate.

The 2021 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 29.