San Francisco 49ers Roundtable: Final seven-round mock draft
By Kevin Saito
Isaac’s Projection: Round Three (picks 70 and 74): Duke Dawson (CB – Florida) and Darius Leonard (LB – South Carolina State)
After the addition of Richard Sherman, the team now has two solid starting caliber outside cornerbacks in Sherman and Ahkello Witherspoon. The team can draft cornerback out of the University of Florida, Duke Dawson in the third round to fill the nickel cornerback position.
A good nickel corner is an essential piece to any modern defense, as the league gets more and more pass heavy. The addition of Dawson can give the team a great trio of corners that should be able to keep up with most receiving cores that come their way.
The team also has an addition pick in the third round, pick 74. It would make sense if the 49ers took linebacker, Darius Leonard, here. Leonard is a versatile outside linebacker from South Carolina State University who has the ability to play in space and cover extremely well, while also being a good pass rusher from the second level.
Leonard is exactly the type of player the San Francisco 49ers defense needs.
Kevin’s Projection: Round Three (picks 70 and 74): Arden Key (EDGE – LSU) and Anthony Averett (CB – Alabama)
Simply put, the 49ers need to improve their pass rush. Dramatically. Picking up an edge rusher to complement Arik Armstead and Solomon Thomas is going to be fairly vital for the team in the draft.
Key comes with some serious baggage though – enough baggage that most scouts consider him a first-round talent, but see him slipping precipitously down the draft board. There’s no denying his talent though, and if he can stay on the straight and narrow, he could add some punch to San Francisco’s pass rush.
In Averett, the 49ers would be getting some much needed depth in the secondary. At five-foot-eleven, 183 pounds, he’s not the biggest guy around, but he’s got 4.3 speed, has a quick twitch and sticks with receivers very well. He has good route recognition and the speed and athleticism to stay with wideouts deep downfield.
He could challenge for a starting spot as a slot corner right away, but at the very least, gives the 49ers a solid depth option.