49ers 7-round 2022 mock NFL Draft, Christmas edition

Round 2, Pick No. 54 Overall: Safety Jordan Battle, Alabama

San Francisco’s recent hot streak means the team has been pushed away from likely landing some of those Round 1-caliber players who always slip into the second round, and the 49ers’ first projected pick winds up taking place at No. 54 overall.

Ideally, a cornerback would be the selection here, but there’s a noticeable gap between the first-round prospects and those who’ll be had later, so the value isn’t quite there yet.

Still, the Niners have needs in the safety department, particularly with strong safety Jaquiski Tartt hitting free agency this offseason and having dealt with a swarm of injuries over his career. Sure, San Francisco invested a day-three pick in USC safety Talanoa Hufanga a year ago. And while Hufanga has flashed moments of promise, his pure coverage skills are still notably lacking.

To shore up a questionable secondary, the 49ers target one of the better collegiate safeties in this year’s class, Alabama’s Jordan Battle, who’s more than capable of rotating between strong- and free-safety spots.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1473360120797020160

Battle is likely one of the few plug-and-play defensive backs coming out early in this year’s draft, and he’d be a capable defensive back who’d pair nicely with free safety Jimmie Ward while infusing some much-needed youth into the secondary.

Particularly a player who could contribute at a high level.