It's not far-fetched to think the San Francisco 49ers could use a 2025 draft pick on a cornerback—possibly even their first-round selection, the 11th overall. According to NFL Mock Draft Database, many mock drafts project them doing just that.
ESPN's Matt Bowen recently identified the favorite team fits for 20 top prospects ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Among them, he linked Iowa State cornerback Darien Porter to the 49ers. However, Bowen believes San Francisco could land him in the second round with pick No. 43—and even that might be a slight reach.
"This might be a little sooner than Porter is expected to come off the board, but I see a really good fit here in the 49ers' defense under new coordinator Robert Saleh," Bowen commented. "Porter has all the tools to play press man. He's long with 33?-inch arms and has 4.3 speed. He disrupts receivers' releases, opens and runs with them. But Porter also has the zone vision to sink in the flat or get to depth in the outside third of the field -- along with the closing speed to drive on the ball."
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Porter measured 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds. Paired with his impressive 4.3-second 40-time, which ranked second among cornerbacks in Indianapolis, he could be an intriguing prospect if the 49ers pass on a defensive back in the first round.
"The 49ers would be betting on the traits, but it's a bet that could pay off big time," Bowen added.
According to Sports Reference, Porter recorded 18 tackles (two for a loss), three interceptions, and two passes defensed in 2024. His 90.1 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus ranked seventh in the nation among cornerbacks, while opposing quarterbacks posted a dismal 4.7 NFL passer rating when targeting him.
"Porter's rep total is heavy on zone coverages but he has the athleticism, burst and speed to handle more man coverage," NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. "He has excellent zone awareness with the twitch and ball skills to expand his sphere of influence. He uses his length to shade downfield throws but needs to get stronger to improve his press, his contest and his tackling in run support.
"More schooling is needed as a pattern-matcher but his athletic profile and instant impact on special teams should create more confidence in projecting Porter's continued ascension as a CB2/CB3."