Niner Noise
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5 players 49ers should have taken in 2021 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

Defensive back Jericho Flowers #7 of the UNLV Rebels defends wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown #8 of the USC Trojans (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Defensive back Jericho Flowers #7 of the UNLV Rebels defends wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown #8 of the USC Trojans (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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Justyn Ross, Clemson Tigers, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse Orange
Clemson Tigers wide receiver Justyn Ross (8) against Syracuse Orange defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu (23) Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

827. . Cornerback. Orange . Ifeatu Melifonwu. 2. player

No. 2: 49ers just missed out on cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu

Getting two picks in Round 3, including the previously assigned compensatory pick at No. 102 overall, could have easily meant San Francisco wouldn’t have to reach on Syracuse cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu, whose 6-foot-2 and 205-pound frame would have been ideal in the 49ers’ traditional zone-style Cover 3 defense on the boundary.

True, the Niners have somewhat shifted away from big-bodied outside corners as of late. But Melifonwu would have been a quality addition and someone capable of starting right away.

Now, the Detroit Lions will see if Melifonwu will wind up being a key part of their defense, having selected him the pick immediately before San Francisco’s comp selection.

Fortunately, the 49ers didn’t completely neglect their secondary, which has all but two of their starters poised to hit free agency in 2022. The later additions of Ambry Thomas, Deommodore Lenoir and Talanoa Hufanga should hopefully infuse some youth and potentially make up for any injury attrition or eventual free-agent losses the team suffers within the upcoming year-plus.

That said, Melifonwu would have been an excellent grab.

Melifonwu is a solid zone-style cornerback and projects as someone who, if developed properly, could wind up a shutdown-type defensive back. Going back to the Trey Sermon selection, had the Niners not made that particular pick, going after Melifonwu instead might have been the better move and certainly wouldn’t have been a reach.