49ers 7-round mock 2021 NFL Draft with only Big Ten players
Golden Gophers . Benjamin St-Juste. 102. player. 852. . Cornerback
49ers Round 3 Pick, No. 102 Overall: Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste
The cornerback group is one of the deepest in the draft, and while it is a need the 49ers might choose to fill in the second round, there should still be late day-two and early day-three talent who could slide the Niners’ way.
This third-round pick is the first of the compensatory picks San Francisco received for the New York Jets hiring Robert Saleh as their head coach, the second of which now belongs to Miami via the trade for No. 3. And while there is a chance the 49ers use other picks to move up in the round, they’d be quite pleased to grab a solid cornerback with No. 102 overall.
Benjamin St-Juste is the type of cornerback the Niners have looked to bring in since Kyle Shanahan started as head coach, as he’s long and lean, standing at 6-foot-3.
And while he would still be a bit of a work in progress, San Francisco’s current cornerback room might allow for him to develop, with Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley, and K’Waun Williams seemingly set as starters for 2021.
Over time, St-Juste has a chance to model his game after former 49ers corner Richard Sherman, but he’ll need to refine his ball skills (he had zero interceptions in 18 college games) at the next level.
But he has that thing you can’t teach: size. And it’s possible that will attract new defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans.