Monday, August 24, 2020

San Francisco 49ers Mock Draft Roundup, 2.0

Throughout the year and leading up to the 2021 NFL draft, we will update our San Francisco 49ers Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the San Francisco 49ers from several prominent sites and draft analysts.

For a more inclusive lists of mock drafts for the San Francisco 49ers, check out our 2021 San Francisco 49ers Mock Draft Database.

The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the 49ers:

Rotoworld - Thor Nystrom (8/21)

31. Paris Ford, S, Pittsburgh

The 49ers have needs at corner -- with Richard Sherman nearing retirement, Emmanuel Moseley set to be an exclusive rights free agent, and Ahkello Witherspoon remaining inconsistent -- and safety. They'll wait on corner for now and pop Ford, a former corner-turned-safety who plays with a gladiator ethos. Ford will improve coverage and bring plenty of energy.

PFF - Mike Renner (8/19)

29. Walker Little, OT, Stanford

If he doesn't get to play any more football, we'll have seen all of 72 snaps from Little since 2018. He's a big, mobile left tackle, though, and that would fit perfectly into Kyle Shanahan's scheme if they can't re-sign Trent Williams. If he could have stayed healthy all of 2019, there's a chance he would have been in the conversation for the first tackle off the board last year.

The Draft Network - Kyle Crabbs (8/19)

29. Trey Smith, IOL, Tennessee

The 49ers let starting guard Mike Person go this offseason and he promptly retired this summer. The 49ers are currently scheduled to have Daniel Brunskill and free agent addition Tom Compton compete to take his place. Instead of sticking with that blueprint long-term, why not go nail down a warhammer in the run game in Trey Smith? The 49ers are super physical but also graceful up front; Smith moves well enough for a big man that the Vols tried him at left tackle for a while. If the medicals clear, this is a match made in heaven next to Mike McGlinchey at right tackle.

Pro Football Network - Oliver Hodgkinson (8/16)

31. Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina

Three out of the four starters in the San Francisco 49ers secondary are out of contract at the end of this season. With Richard Sherman set to turn 33 before the 2021 NFL Draft, it is reasonable to expect cornerback and safety to be high on the 49ers shopping list. Kyle Shanahan's propensity to use multiple running backs suggests that the 49ers may add another offensive weapon in the ground game.

In 2019, Israel Mukuamu kept a first-round NFL Draft wide receiver locked down and intercepted a quarterback who is on an NFL roster three times in one game. He might not be the quickest cornerback in this 2021 NFL Draft class, but at 6'3'', he's certainly one of the tallest, and he combines fantastic length with football intelligence and ball skills to be a potential first-round pick.

ESPN - Todd McShay (8/12)

29. Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina

Niners defensive coordinator Robert Saleh loves length at cornerback for his physical single-high scheme, and Mukuamu is a 6-foot-4 press corner with arm length for days. His ball production was outstanding in 2019 with nine passes broken up and four picks, though he is still developing his recognition skills. Richard Sherman and Ahkello Witherspoon lead a pack of seven cornerbacks on this San Francisco roster playing on the last year of their deals this season (five of whom will be unrestricted free agents). Mukuamu has the football sense to pick up the scheme quickly and make a big impact in his first pro season.

The Draft Network - Jordan Reid (8/10)

29. Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford

Edge rusher is arguably a need with Dee Ford 's contract containing an opt out following the 2020 season, but the other obvious one is at corner. Although playing well, Richard Sherman is another year older, Ahkello Witherspoon remains inconsistent, and Emmanuel Moseley has shown flashes that warrant him being the permanent No. 2 corner, but he's scheduled to be an exclusive rights free agent following the season.

Trying their luck with another Stanford corner, Adebo displayed many traits to make him an attractive option in the early rounds in 2019, but the Week 3 game against UCF and Gabriel Davis happened, which plummeted his draft stock. Electing to return for his final season, he has a prime opportunity to rebound into being the first-round corner that some saw him being prior to the matchup against the Golden Knights.

Pro Football Network - Matthew Valdovinos (8/9)

31. Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina

Mukuamu is built in the same mold as current 49er Richard Sherman. Long arms, great ball skills, aggressive cornerbacks who struggle to stop and start and travel horizontally as opposed to vertically. Mukuamu has very impressive physical tools, and lining up across from Sherman would be reminiscent of Seattle's shut down secondary. When you're as good as San Francisco, you have the liberty to select a player that is this scheme specific.

The Draft Network - Joe Marino (8/3)

29. Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford

Richard Sherman will be 33 at season's end, Akhello Witherspoon hasn't materialized, and Jason Verrett simply isn't reliable considering he's played in just six games since 2016 (yet the 49ers brought him back for the 2020 season). Emmanuel Mosely showed great potential last season, but San Francisco needs more at corner.

Adebo is a physical corner that thrives in zone and press coverage, making him an ideal fit for the 49ers' scheme, where help is needed.

Previous update: San Francisco 49ers Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

MORE TEAMS: All NFL Team Mock Draft Roundups

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