The most intriguing prospect the 49ers met with at NFL Combine

Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents has met with every team at the NFL Combine including the San Francisco 49ers, his performance demonstrated why.

The San Francisco 49ers met with a lot of prospects at the NFL Combine, and one player among them was Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents.

The cornerback position isn’t very deep at the top of the 2023 draft with not a lot of first-round prospects beyond the top three prospects of Christian Gonzalez, Joey Porter Jr. and Devon Witherspoon.

But, on Day 2, it’s a different matter with a lot of prospects, including Brents, to be had.

Read More: 5 sleeper draft prospects 49ers must watch closely at NFL Combine

Brents had a strong senior year, showcasing his playmaking skills with four interceptions and four passes defended in 2022 as the Wildcats upset TCU to win the Big 12 title and make the Sugar Bowl.

Brent was a solid Day 2 prospect, but his NFL Combine performance may have vaulted him into top-50 discussion. While it would be unlikely he makes it to Thursday night, an exceptionally strong pro day could very well see him enter the discussion as a potential surprise pick.

The Niners have multiple third-round picks and 10 picks overall in the draft. While they don’t have a ton of draft value in their picks, there is enough for them to move into the second round to pick someone they like. Brents should definitely be someone they like after not only his combine but as one of the standouts in the Senior Bowl, too.

Brents had good measurements at the NFL Combine, coming in at 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds. He also ran a strong 40-yard time at 4.53 seconds, and completely blitzed the athleticism portion.

Brents has positional versatility being able to play outside or in the slot. He’s a willing tackler who makes plays in the backfield (8.5 tackles for loss for 2021 and 2022 at Kansas State) and he’s a fit for zone coverage which is perfect for San Francisco.

There is some concern with Brents, of course, or else he would be a first-round prospect. His speed is good for his size, but it isn’t elite and he can have problems with speedy receivers unless he has help over the top. He can also be grabby which leads to holding penalties, and that could be a source of headaches for coaches at the next level.

But, among all the prospects in Mobile, few did more to boost their draft stock than Brents.

If there’s a prospect worth a trade-up for the 49ers, it’s him.