The 49ers also have to wonder about their secondary and specifically if they have sufficient depth and quality at cornerback.
And, historically, teams tend to take a shot on defensive back after defensive back in the back end of the first round, when San Francisco is once again picking (as is the norm for them). The depth chart at that position leaves much to be desired in terms of adding another immediate starter and also addressing more quality depth.
The defense badly needs more playmakers, and while head coach Kyle Shanahan has proven he can overcome so-so offensive line play with his scheme and play calling, and he can turn good players into high-impact performers in the pass game, they are now in a division with arguably the two best teams in the NFL (Rams and Seahawks) and both have precision offenses that can shred lackluster secondaries.
The markets aren’t favoring San Francisco going with a defensive back, but evaluators I have asked about the 49ers wouldn’t be nearly as shocked by such a move.
“Hell yeah they need a corner or two,” said one longtime NFL evaluator whose team is picking in the same relative area as the 49ers.
Teams will continue to spread the 49ers out, especially if the pass rush doesn’t get back close to where it was, and put tremendous pressure on the offense to score at a high rate.
Nickel has become the base look in the NFL, and matching-up is critical.
The 49ers at +550 to take a corner, given how that position is being evaluated and where those prospects may fall between picks 24-32 might be worth a sprinkle.
