The San Francisco 49ers' lack of a first-round pick has fans depending on mock drafts that go deeper than one round to get a preview of what Kyle Shanahan's squad might do in April. NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter released a three-round mock draft, giving us a look at the team's first three possible selections.
Reuter has the 49ers double-dipping into the rookie cornerback pool with the first two picks. He has San Francisco selecting cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields of Penn State with the No. 61 overall pick. Many see cornerback as one of the team's biggest offseason needs. Emmanuel Moseley is a capable starter, and rookie Ambry Thomas came on strong toward the end of the season. Behind them, however, is a lot of uncertainty.
Castro-Fields played in 52 career games, making 30 starts at cornerback during his time with the Nittany Lions, recording 138 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three interceptions, 25 pass breakups, and a forced fumble. He started 12 games in 2021, making 32 tackles and breaking up six passes.
Moving on to the third round, Reuter has the 49ers using the No. 93 overall pick on cornerback Marcus Jones of Houston. He recorded 153 tackles, five tackles for a loss, nine interceptions, a touchdown, and 31 passes defensed with the Cougars and Troy Trojans. Five of his nine interceptions came as a senior in 2021.
Lastly, Reuter has San Francisco selecting defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia of UCLA with the No. 104 overall pick, a projected compensatory selection. Ogbonnia recorded 27 tackles, five tackles for a loss, and two sacks through 11 games as a senior with the Bruins in 2021.
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