With the NFL Draft less than a month away, Todd McShay released his latest two-round mock draft for ESPN. Thanks to last year's trade to select quarterback Trey Lance, the San Francisco 49ers are without a first-round pick. That means their first selection doesn't come until pick No. 61 in the second round.
McShay has the 49ers bolstering the defensive backfield with their first selection—safety Nick Cross of Maryland.
"With Jimmie Ward entering the final year of his deal, the Niners might look to the secondary here," wrote McShay. "At 6-foot and 212 pounds, Cross has great size, center fielder speed and plenty of versatility."
Last year's starting safety, Jaquiski Tartt, remains a free agent. The 49ers drafted safety Talanoa Hufanga out of USC in the fifth round in 2021.
Cross registered 66 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, two passes defensed, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles through 12 game appearances as a junior in 2021, per Sports Reference. He recorded 134 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, 10 passes defensed, five interceptions, and three forced fumbles through his three collegiate seasons.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Cross had a 40-time of 4.34 seconds, a vertical jump of 37 inches, and a broad jump of 130 inches. Cross' other measurables include an arm length of 31 1/2 inches and hands measuring 9 inches.
"Cross operated as the bouncer of the Maryland defense, playing with the aggression and explosiveness to throw opponents out of the club," wrote Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. "He is a chase player who seeks to make a statement upon impact and has impressive stopping power near the line or as an open-field tackler. He's a tight-hipped, linear mover, so flipping and flying are not his strong suit. He's capable of matching with most flavors of tight end and will be most comfortable in coverages that allow him to play with a downhill trigger. He has the temperament, size and toughness to become an eventual starter in the league."
