5 draft prospects who entice 49ers at 2022 NFL Scouting Combine

With the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine kicking off shortly, the 49ers should be intrigued by these five prospects they’ll have to watch.

The San Francisco 49ers have to be thinking hard about what plan of attack they want to take in the 2022 NFL Draft, and that process will be made tougher knowing they’re without a first-round pick this year, thanks to last year’s aggressive trade-up for quarterback Trey Lance.

There are some ways for general manager John Lynch to get back into Round 1, of course, but the likelihood is Lynch and Co. will be paying much closer attention to the prospects they can target on day two of the draft.

And especially some of those hidden gems who can be found on day three between Rounds 4 and 7.

Perhaps it’s overvalued, but nevertheless, the NFL Scouting Combine is a crucial step in helping identify those studs and gems during the draft. And with the 2022 scouting combine kicking off on Tuesday, March 1 from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Niners will want to pay close attention to how these five draft prospects perform.

Particularly if they have a great showing.

49ers NFL Combine prospect to watch No. 5: CB Roger McCreary, Auburn

It’s no secret San Francisco needs help in its secondary, particularly if defensive backs K’Waun Williams and Jaquiski Tartt depart in free agency and with the need to ensure too much pressure isn’t placed on younger cornerbacks like Emmanuel Moseley and Ambry Thomas.

The 49ers may use one of their first two picks on a cornerback in this year’s draft, and Auburn corner Roger McCreary surely has to be on the team’s radar after his two-interception, 14-pass breakup campaign in 2021.

Predicted to run a sub-4.5 40-yard time at the NFL Combine, McCreary’s 6-foot, 190-pound frame is the ideal blend of size and speed, and he has enough physicality to suggest he could play in both press-man and zone-style coverages.

Depending on how his combine workouts go, though, the Niners may have to look at moving McCreary up their draft board.