San Francisco 49ers: Early look at 5 targets in 2022 NFL Draft

49ers Target No. 1: CB Sevyn Banks, Ohio State

In an ideal world, both Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir develop into starting-caliber cornerbacks. San Francisco has to have high hopes for both, particularly knowing both Jason Verrett and K’Waun Williams are pegged for free agency in 2022.

Yet Thomas and Lenoir could just as easily wind up as no more than reserve defensive backs, thereby prompting the 49ers to make even more investments for the secondary from the draft.

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And doing so earlier next year than they did in 2021 might be a big priority.

Ohio State cornerback Sevyn Banks is another one of those players who likely winds up getting first-round consideration, although we’ve seen more than a few players slip over the course of a full college season before.

Not that the Niners want the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Banks to struggle, but rather perhaps hoping other players merely climb up above him in big-board rankings. After all, the 2022 draft class is reportedly deep at cornerback, and Banks could easily get lost in the shuffle and fall a bit despite having a first-round pedigree.

Banks will look to capitalize on an impressive 23-tackle, six-pass-breakup campaign from his junior season a year ago, which will ultimately determine which side of the first-round fringe he’ll fall on.

As far as build and play style, he’d be an excellent early target for San Francisco.