49ers 2023 NFL Draft class: Best, worst and most intriguing picks
By Peter Panacy
2117. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Cornerback. 155. South Alabama. Darrell Luter Jr.. player
49ers’ best pick from 2023 NFL Draft: CB Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama
It would have been easy to list San Francisco’s top pick from the 2023 draft, Ji’Ayir Brown, as the best one from the class.
However, let’s bump down into Round 5 where the 49ers made two selections, EDGE Robert Beal Jr. and cornerback Darrell Luter Jr.
Luter, the South Alabama standout, was a player Niner Noise had scouted shortly after the Senior Bowl, and the 6-foot-0 and 189-pound prospect could have easily been selected much earlier than where the Niners got him at No. 155 overall.
The 49ers drafted South Alabama corner Darrell Luter Jr. with the 155th overall pick. Pretty athletic prospect pic.twitter.com/GnBW8jIw4X
— Jake Hutchinson (@hutchdiesel) April 29, 2023
Whereas Brown is likely looking at backup duties in year one, thanks to both Tashaun Gipson and Talanoa Hufanga manning the safety spots, Luter is in serious contention to be a starting boundary cornerback from day one opposite the veteran Charvarius Ward.
And Luter can back it up, too, bringing both good speed and physicality to the position.
San Francisco has plenty of fifth-round success stories in the NFL Draft, and Luter could easily be the next one.