After a quiet NFL Draft Day 1 from the 49ers, there are plenty of players still available who can make a valuable impact to the team this upcoming season.
As the New York Jets submitted their No. 10 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, San Francisco 49ers fans blew a sigh of relief as it was almost certain at that point All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel would not be traded. Despite speculation, Samuel still remains a 49er after day one of the draft.
Besides rumors surrounding Samuel, the Niners’ night went quietly by as expected with no first-round picks.
However, holding one second-round pick and two third-round picks is very valuable, and San Francisco will look to fill some glaring needs. The offensive line is a position that will need addressing at some point in this draft after losing left guard Laken Tomlinson to free agency and center Alex Mack potentially on his way to retirement.
Another glaring need for the franchise is the secondary, both cornerback and safety positions. Charvarius Ward was a great free-agent signing, but he doesn’t solve all of the 49ers’ problems they have on the back end.
The defensive line could certainly use some added depth after losing some players in free agency there as well. EDGE is a position of need more specifically on the line, with Nick Bosa being the only real edge threat the Niners have. Pairing him with a young talented pass-rusher would only set that rookie up for success.
Regardless of where the 49ers decide to go, there is so much depth in these positions that they should be able to fill their needs accordingly.
Let’s look at who might be available on day two of the 2022 NFL Draft.
49ers NFL Draft target No. 4: CB Tariq Woolen (UTSA)
Tariq Woolen is the tallest cornerback in this year’s premier class of corners and has the speed and agility to match that size. At 6-foot-4, Woolen can guard the tallest receivers in the NFL and you can even put him on tight end receiving threats as well.
At that height, you would expect Woolen to lose some speed due to his size, but he ran an official 40-yard dash time of 4.26.
Woolen played his college ball at UTSA and started the past two seasons. His ability to make up after getting beat showed on tape over and over. There were times when he was overly aggressive and would jump some routes, but those are the risks for the type of playmaker he wants to be.
The downside to Woolen is that he never faced any elite competition in his time and UTSA and didn’t exactly put up any eye-popping numbers after finishing with just two interceptions in his last season.
On the flip side, he has unheard of measurables and above-average ball skills with the ability to high point the ball in traffic.
49ers NFL Draft target No. 3: S Nick Cross (Maryland)
Nick Cross is a do-it-all defensive back who has the versatility to line up all over the defensive backfield. Cross is an average-sized defensive back who plays extremely fast and is one of the most secure tacklers at the position in this year’s class.
Cross finished his 2021 campaign with 66 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, three interceptions, two passes broken up and two forced fumbles. He clearly has no issue blitzing and can also cover from the slot cornerback position. Having a player like Cross will always keep the offense guessing because he can come off the edge at any moment.
Watching this kid play reminds you of the old-school hard-hitting safeties of the NFL’s past with the way he attacks ball carriers. This leads to him getting caught on play-action plays because of his over-aggressiveness to the run, though.
What makes Cross stand out above the rest is the 100-percent effort he gives on every play. He relies heavily on his athletic ability to make plays, which oftentimes leaves him looking suspect in coverage.
Cross thrives in an environment where he can attack the run aggressively and occasionally be used in one-on-one coverage.
49ers NFL Draft target No. 2: LG Marquis Hayes (Oklahoma)
Marquis Hayes is a great value pick the 49ers should be able to acquire in the third round of the draft and has a total of 36 career starts at left guard. Hayes would slide right into the starting left guard position and could end up being the steal of this draft.
His ability in the run game is what truly should excite Niner fans with the power to move opposing defensive linemen and open up holes in the running game.
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Being a three-year starter at one of the most potent offenses in college football is always a plus, and he has the most experience of any guard in this year’s class.
Hayes has a very high motor and is always looking for more work along the offensive line, and he is aggressive from the snap of the ball and is looking to get violent with the opposing defenders.
49ers NFL Draft target No. 1: WR Velus Jones Jr. (Tennessee)
Deebo Samuel is having his issues with the 49ers organization, nonetheless addressing the position late in the third round of the draft may not be such a bad idea.
With fellow wide receivers Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk continuing to improve, adding another piece to possibly the thinnest depth on the roster is the right move.
Velus Jones Jr. would bring some much-needed speed to this group, clocking in at a 4.31 40-yard dash time back at the NFL Combine. Jones is also a special teams specialist returning both kicks and punts, too.
San Francisco could use a playmaker at both returner positions, and he has the ability to fill that need and more with his offensive skill set. Additionally, Jones has the unique ability to separate from anybody with speed and that shows on tape when he is blowing by defenders.
He is more of a project, but his speed and picking him up with the last pick in the third round would be a huge win for San Francisco. His route tree needs improvement but the immediate impact he would make with this team is on special teams.
Day two of the 2022 NFL Draft kicks off on Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m. ET.