The San Francisco 49ers appear to have strengthened their secondary with the selection of former Washington and Arizona cornerback Ephesians Prysock in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
At just over 6-foot-3 with a 6-foot-8½ wingspan, Prysock brings rare size to the cornerback room and is now the tallest defensive back on the 49ers roster.
However, one former 49ers defensive back believes Prysock may ultimately be better suited at a different position: safety.
According to Pro Football Focus, Prysock has almost no experience at safety during his college career. Still, former 49ers safety Donte Whitner recently suggested on his podcast, The Grit Code, that San Francisco should consider a full-time transition for the first-year player.
"I don't think that he should ever step foot in the cornerbacks' room," Whitner said. "Ephesians Prysock, go straight to the safeties' room and learn the safety position, start from the beginning."
EP 36 LIVE NOW 🚨
Ephesians Prysock should never touch the CB room again.
Full-time FS. Let him wreak havoc.
Project: ALL-PRO 👀
Would you play him at FS?
Subscribe: https://t.co/E8RbuuHFz4@DonteWhitner @rodbrooksTV pic.twitter.com/z30lPtULiC
— Grit Code Podcast (@thegritcode) May 9, 2026
Whitner believes Prysock's rare combination of size and length could translate well to the safety position, citing the Seattle Seahawks' success in transitioning Coby Bryant from cornerback to safety before he signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the Chicago Bears in March.
"This guy has all of those attributes, and you put him at free safety, you're going to have a playmaker," Whitner continued. "I'm telling you, they haven't seen anything like this, if you strictly have somebody work with him and develop him at the safety position."
Prysock showed steady development during his college career, improving his Pro Football Focus coverage grade from 57.3 in 2024 to 76.5 in 2025. He also posted strong metrics in other critical categories, including at least an 81.2 run-defense grade and a 76.1 tackling grade in each of his final two seasons.
If taken seriously, Whitner's recommendation would prompt the 49ers to make an early developmental decision: continue Prysock's development at cornerback or explore a potential transition to safety.
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