Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
49ers bolster defensive backfield in latest Todd McShay mock draft
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
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."
Related News
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
49ers add edge rusher in latest NFL.com mock draft
NFL Network host Rhett Lewis released his first mock draft of the year on NFL.com. What does he project the San Francisco 49ers doing with the No. 31 overall pick? Lewis has the team acquiring some edge-rushing help, bolstering a group that already includes Nick Bosa and newly signed Leonard Floyd.
The host has the 49ers selecting former Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson.
According to Sports Reference, Robinson registered 41 tackles, including 17.5 for a loss, 9.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and three forced fumbles in two
49ers address both sides of the ball in latest Kiper 2-round mock draft
The San Francisco 49ers have overhauled their defensive line in free agency, bidding farewell to defensive tackle Arik Armstead and defensive end Chase Young while bolstering their ranks with the signings of defensive ends Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos. Additionally, they acquired defensive tackle Maliek Collins via trade.
Having focused primarily on the defensive side of the ball in free agency, the 49ers are widely anticipated to turn their attention to the offensive side in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Long-standing ESPN analyst Mel Kiper unveiled his latest mock draft, this
7-round mock draft from The Athletic sees 49ers fortifying defense early
Analyst Dane Brugler recently revealed his seven-round mock draft for The Athletic, forecasting all 257 selections in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, set to kick off next week.
"Piecing together a mock like this is time consuming, but I enjoy the exercise, because it allows me to focus on each team's needs, organizational trends and prospect-team pairings that make sense based on '30' visits, league buzz and overall interest," Brugler wrote.
Most expect the 49ers to address the trenches early in the draft, and Brugler has the team doing that. It's just not on the offensive side of the football. In fact, Brugler doesn't have San Francisco
PFF mock draft has 49ers adding cornerback with 'unique fluidity and size'
Analyst Steve Palazzolo unveiled a first-round mock draft for Pro Football Focus, attempting to forecast the selections for each NFL team within the top 32 picks. While the San Francisco 49ers concentrated on strengthening the defensive line in free agency, Palazzolo envisions the team continuing to fortify that side of the ball.
In his mock draft, Palazzolo predicts that the 49ers will select former Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa with the No. 31 overall pick.
"Tampa's unique fluidity and size for a cornerback make him worthy of a top-75 pick," reads the analysis from Pro Football Focus' big board. "If he can clean up his footwork, he can
