These 49ers draft prospects absolutely nailed their NFL Combine

49ers Prospect No. 3: Jakorian Bennett, Cornerback, Maryland

The Niners finally have some stability at cornerback, but nickel back Jimmie Ward could very well leave the 49ers in free agency while Emmanuel Moseley is coming off an ACL tear. The 49ers could very well decide to spend one of their picks on someone to provide backup.

Jakorian Bennett is a versatile prospect who played outside cornerback, nickel and safety for Maryland. San Francisco deeply values versatility from its players, and Bennett could be a backup who fills a lot of needs while he develops for the next level.

A tad undersized at 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds, Bennett nevertheless ticks a lot of boxes for San Francisco with his versatility and willingness to tackle the ball carrier. He’s been productive at Maryland, too, with five interceptions and 22 passes defended in his past two seasons with the Terrapins.

Bennett had to make sure he ran well in the drills given he’s a bit undersized, and his 4.30 40-yard time will reassure teams he can run with the fastest receivers. That 4.30 time is third among all cornerbacks at the Combine this season.

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Bennett isn’t a perfect prospect of course, or else he wouldn’t be available for the 49ers to consider. He can sometimes be slow with the hips to run with receivers despite his straightline speed, which means he does tend to grab receivers which could get him flagged a lot in the NFL if that isn’t coached out. His aforementioned physical limitations might also be a concern.

But Bennett has definite versatility and upside, and definitely a player that the 49ers can consider in the draft.