Todd McShay had the San Francisco 49ers selecting safety Minkah Fitzpatrick of Alabama in his first mock draft. Version 2.0 landed on ESPN Tuesday morning and still has the 49ers going defensive back.
McShay, a draft analyst for the site, now has San Francisco selecting Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward with the ninth overall pick in April's draft. The 49ers' actual draft spot, which will be ninth or tenth, will be determined by a tiebreaking coin flip against the Oakland Raiders at the NFL Scouting Combine later this month.
Following his most successful statistical year at Ohio State, Ward decided to forgo his senior season. In 2017, he registered 37 combined tackles, two interceptions, and 15 passes defensed through 11 games, according to Pro Football Reference. Ward, who is 5-foot-10, earned All-American honors and was first-team all-Big Ten.
ESPN's Mel Kiper also had the 49ers selecting Ward in his first mock draft.
In this latest mock, Fitzpatrick is selected two picks earlier by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds of Virginia Tech is chosen by the Raiders one pick after the 49ers.
Here is what McShay has to say about the selection of Ward by the 49ers:
"Well, things have changed a bit for the 49ers, haven't they? With Jimmy Garoppolo looking like a franchise QB, all of a sudden it's no longer a position of need for San Francisco. Instead, the 49ers can look to the defensive side of the ball and grab the best man-to-man cover corner in this draft. Ward lacks ideal starting experience at Ohio State but was exceptional this season and rose quickly up my board."
The 49ers used a third-round pick on cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon last year. Dontae Johnson, who started across from Witherspoon, was erratic in his play and is scheduled to become a free agent.