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49ers: An early look at the 5 biggest needs in the 2023 NFL draft

By James LeBreton

Commissioner Roger Goodell names a pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the 2016 NFL Draft (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
Commissioner Roger Goodell names a pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the 2016 NFL Draft (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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Charvarius Ward, Robbie Anderson, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers
Oct 9, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) breaks up a pass near the end zone to Carolina Panthers wide receiver Robbie Anderson (3) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /

5 biggest draft needs No. 2: Cornerback

It seems as though the 49ers need help in the secondary every year, but the simple truth is that a good cover corner is hard to find.

Charvarius Ward was a solid addition to the roster, and aside from getting roasted a few times, he’s performed beautifully. On the other side of the field, Emmanuel Moseley is the team’s golden child, but unfortunately, he went down with a season-ending ACL tear.

So who’s up next? Sam Womack and Ambry Thomas have shown promise, but are either of them capable of starting week after week? That remains to be seen. My guess is if they were, the team wouldn’t have spent big on Ward.

With no picks to spend in the earlier rounds, the 49ers need to find a diamond-in-the-rough in a bad way. The league is full of speedsters at the wide receiver position, and it would be fatal if the team was unable to provide quality coverage on the regular. While it’s true that the defense is lock-down at the moment, the purpose of drafting is to keep that pressure constant year after year.

In hindsight, cornerback may prove to be the teams biggest need.