Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus has the San Francisco 49ers trading out of the No. 12 spot in the analytics site's latest mock draft. The New England Patriots acquire the selection from general manager John Lynch and company, and use it to add former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones.
San Francisco moves down three spots to No. 15, and uses the selection to bolster what could quickly become a depleted cornerback group, adding former Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley.
"The San Francisco 49ers re-signed restricted free agent cornerback Emmanuel Moseley but are still likely set to lose Richard Sherman to free agency and may also see Ahkello Witherspoon sign elsewhere," wrote Spielberger. "Farley is a converted wide receiver — reminiscent of Sherman's path earlier in his football career.
"At 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, he can match up with anyone, and his 90.7 coverage grade in 2019 ranked sixth among all college cornerbacks. He allowed a lowly 36% completion rate, which ranked 11th-best in the nation among cornerbacks with at least 10 targets."
Farley (6-2, 207) recorded 20 tackles, four interceptions, a touchdown, and 12 passes defensed through 10 games as a sophomore in 2019, per Sports Reference, earning first-team All-ACC honors. He did not play in 2020, though, which leaves evaluators with only 23 career collegiate games to review and gauge how he would handle himself against NFL competition.
The 2021 NFL Draft begins on April 29.