It wouldn’t be shocking at all if the 49ers looked at grabbing a safety early in the 2022 NFL Draft, and these five sure stand out for the right reasons.
The San Francisco 49ers could go one of many different directions with their top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, which just so happens to come in at No. 61 overall way towards the back end of Round 2.
Additionally, with two third-round picks not too long thereafter, general manager John Lynch and Co. hope to stamp out the relatively few-but-still-notable needs the roster has heading towards training camp.
One of those apparent needs is at safety where the Niners don’t seem poised to bring back their longtime starter, Jaquiski Tartt, who remains a free agent. And while San Francisco boasts some possible fill-in options, namely players like George Odum, Talanoa Hufanga and Tarvarius Moore, it’s probably more feasible to consider looking at day two of the draft to find someone who can serve as a full-time replacement.
If the 49ers do go with a safety on day two of the draft, these five surely seem to fit the bill.
49ers safety prospect No. 5: Leon O’Neal Jr., Texas A&M
It’s possible the Niners wait until the end of Round 3 to make a safety pick, and one of the names to watch if they go this route is Texas A&M safety Leon O’Neal Jr.
On the fringes of being a late day-two pick or going early on day three, the 6-foot-1 and 210-pound O’Neal is coming off a 2021 campaign in which he recorded 58 total tackles with three of them coming for a loss, two interceptions and five passes broken up.
While O’Neal’s open-field coverage abilities need some work, he’s notably sound against the run and could probably fit the bill as a good in-the-box safety who can use his physicality to his advantage.
It would take some time before a team like San Francisco could rely on O’Neal to handle free safety duties, meaning its veteran starter, Jimmie Ward, wouldn’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
However, for those responsibilities close to the line of scrimmage, O’Neal checks off a lot of boxes.
49ers safety prospect No. 4: Bryan Cook, Cincinnati
While Leon O’Neal Jr. projects as more of an in-the-box safety upon entering the NFL, Cincinnati safety Bryan Cook is certainly a lot more versatile.
This would benefit the 49ers in a number of ways, as they could deploy more three-high safety looks or potentially look to move Jimmie Ward closer to the box as he begins to get up there in age, allowing a younger player like Cook to man the last line of defense.
At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Cook has the ideal size and adequate enough speed to be rangy in a single-high scheme as long as he gets some help underneath.
Cook finally made some marks for the Bearcats last season, registering a career-best 96 total tackles with two interceptions, but one shouldn’t automatically expect him to be a game-changing defensive back. In some regards, not unlike Jaquiski Tartt, Cook’s efforts often go unnoticed, and his ceiling at the pro level is probably that of someone who’s a good-quality player but won’t raise any eyebrows.
However, with the Niners relying more on their defensive line and linebacker corps, Cook merely filling a void with adequate results should be more than enough.
Expect Cook to be a Round 3 pick.
49ers safety prospect No. 3: Jalen Pitre, Baylor
Again, if you’ve read Niner Noise a decent amount this NFL Draft season, you’ll know we’re a fan of Baylor defensive back Jalen Pitre.
Unlike Leon O’Neal Jr. and Bryan Cook, Pitre is highly unlikely to slip to San Francisco at the back end of Round 3, and there’s an awfully good chance he’ll be off the board by the time the 49ers make their first selection towards the tail of Round 2, too.
Given the fluidity of this year’s draft, however, Pitre can still land in a number of different spots.
Regardless, the 6-foot, 197-pound Pitre has plenty of versatility that would be attractive to the 49ers. Baylor primarily played him at nickel cornerback last year, and that’s a Niners need, but he also has handled boundary corner duties as well as doubling at both safety spots. Capable of making the occasional splash play — 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and seven passes broken up last year — San Francisco might consider Pitre a do-it-all defensive back.
Pitre might not project as well as a single-high safety out in space, though, so it’s possible he’d be limited more towards the action near the tackle box.
However, as far as positional flexibility goes, Pitre is surely a nice fit.
49ers safety prospect No. 2: Kerby Joseph, Illinois
While the 49ers may view someone like Jalen Pitre as a nickel cornerback, going after someone like Illinois safety Kerby Joseph would afford them the opportunity to move other pieces around the defensive backfield at will.
Joseph, 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, had himself quite the notable season for the Fighting Illini last year, breaking out with five interceptions, two passes broken up and two fumble recoveries after being relatively quiet the three years prior.
Essentially only a one-year starter, Joseph will have some growing pains, and he doesn’t project as much as a strong safety closer to the line of scrimmage.
Read More: 5 draft prospects who could be Day 1 starters for 49ers
However, should the Niners feel comfortable with someone like Joseph patrolling the back end of the defense, they could move Jimmie Ward down towards the strong safety spot or potentially into a role where he helps out over the slot, elements he performed at times the last two seasons.
Like Pitre, Joseph is probably going to be a safe bet for Round 2 in the draft, and San Francisco might prefer him over Pitre if it’s solely looking for some changes at free safety.
49ers safety prospect No. 1: Nick Cross, Maryland
Kerby Joseph might be a one-year collegiate wonder. Maryland safety Nick Cross, however, has made his stamp known for a little while now.
At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, Cross is a physical specimen who has the playmaking ability to be far greater a presence on the back end of the defense, notably an upgrade over a prospect such as Bryan Cook. Cross not only has blazing-fast speed, having ran a 4.34 40-yard time at the NFL Scouting Combine, but he uses his body to deliver big hits, too.
Essentially, he could easily be the 49ers’ defensive enforcer.
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Those attributes likely peg him as an excellent free safety option in a single-high defense where he can use his ranginess and hard-hitting abilities to great advantage. Should the Niners deploy more traditional Cover 2 looks with both safeties deep, Cross would pair well with Jimmie Ward. Or, if Ward is moved closer to the box, Cross is perhaps the best option feasibly available to San Francisco in Round 2 to man the last line of defense.
Again, it’s hard to say if Cross will fall that far, and it wouldn’t be overly shocking if he somehow slips into Round 1.
If he’s there for the 49ers at No. 61, though, don’t be surprised if Cross is the pick.