10 players 49ers sorely wish they drafted in 2022 but didn’t
By Peter Panacy
Kerby Joseph. 97. player. 50. . Safety. Detroit Lions
49ers missed-opportunity No. 5: Safety Kerby Joseph, Illinois
OK, so we’re getting to the prospects whose not being selected by the Niners in the NFL Draft might sting a little.
Truth be told, San Francisco had a perfect shot to alleviate the free-agent loss of veteran safety Jaquiski Tartt, who remains unsigned and could still return, by grabbing Illinois defensive back Kerby Joseph, one we tabbed as a potential plug-and-play option to replace Tartt.
Had the 49ers gone that route towards the end of Round 3, of course.
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Joseph needs to work on his reactionary skills a bit, and they’re nowhere close to those of Tartt. But the former’s sideline-to-sideline speed and playmaking abilities would have been welcomed by a still-questionable Niners defensive backfield.
At No. 93 overall, San Francisco could have had Joseph but elected to pass, and he didn’t make it beyond the Detroit Lions to the 49ers’ second third-round pick at No. 105 overall.