The San Francisco 49ers have been tied to an offensive guard at the No. 27 pick in next weekend’s draft.
Yet, the Niners could buck that belief and choose an impact player on defense with their first-round selection, according to NFL insider Jason La Canfora.
The Niners have multiple needs, including on their O-line but also defensive line and defensive secondary. But they have been linked to both Joel Bitonio and Joey Bosa in free agency, which could lead GM John Lynch to select a defensive back in Pittsburgh.
Insider: The 49ers Need a Cornerback
The 49ers went 12-5 and nearly finished as the NFC’s top seed despite having a woeful pass defense and almost no pass rush to speak of. The 49ers were 25th in pass defense and were 32nd in the league in sacks (20).
So the people who La Canfora spoke with believe Lynch and Niners brass intend to fix that by choosing an outside defensive back with their first-round selection.
“The defense badly needs more playmakers,” La Canfora wrote for Sports Boom. “While head coach Kyle Shanahan has proven he can overcome so-so offensive line play with his scheme and play calling, and he can turn good players into high-impact performers in the pass game, they are now in a division with arguably the two best teams in the NFL (Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks) and both have precision offenses that can shred lackluster secondaries.”
The Niners do have Deommodore Lenoir as their No. 1 cornerback but could use an upgrade from No. 2 Renardo Green. Plus, La Canfora noted their subpar nickelback Upton Stout, who ranked 59th out of 114 eligible cornerbacks with a PFF ranking of 62.0.
“Historically, teams tend to take a shot on defensive back after defensive back in the back end of the first round, when San Francisco is once again picking (as is the norm for them),” La Canfora wrote. “The depth chart at that position leaves much to be desired in terms of adding another immediate starter and also addressing more quality depth.
“Nickel has become the base look in the NFL, and matching-up is critical.”
The 49ers Could Use a D-Lineman or EDGE Too
La Canfora, as most reporters, noted the Niners’ interest in Bosa, whose brother Nick is already on the roster. But they may also target a stout defensive lineman in the first round too, based on where their talent pool is.
“The defensive line is nowhere near the level of the units that helped carry the team to multiple Super Bowl appearances and it remains a significant area of concern for the franchise,” La Canfora wrote. “However, they are hopeful of what top pass rusher Nick Bosa can accomplish when he returns from season-ending surgery, and they have high hopes for edge rusher Mykel Williams, their top pick in the 2025 draft.”
Unfortunately, it isn’t a deep draft for D-linemen, especially where the 49ers are picking. Still, La Canfora noted what will happen to them again if they don’t upgrade their pass rush.
“Teams will continue to spread the 49ers out, especially if the pass rush doesnât get back close to where it was, and put tremendous pressure on the offense to score at a high rate,” La Canfora wrote.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Insider Links 49ers to Multiple Defensive Positions for First Round Pick appeared first on Heavy Sports.