© Kim Klement | 2018 Nov 10
Those who are banking on the 49ers selecting a top QB in next year’s draft better hope the team collapses at the end of the 2020 season. As of this writing, the 49ers would have the 16th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. It’s quite likely that position could get worse during San Francisco’s final four games of the season, considering they are getting healthier and their schedule includes games against below average Washington and Dallas.
Drafting at 16th would take the 49ers out of contention for a top four quarterback, at least according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, whose 2021 Mock Draft 1.0 has Trevor Lawrence (No. 1, Jets), Zach Wilson (No. 2, Jaguars), Justin Fields (No. 6, Panthers) and Trey Lance (No. 8, Washington) all off the board well before San Francisco selects.
So where does that leave the 49ers? According to Brugler, he believes John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan will look to shore up the defensive backfield by selecting cornerback Jaycee Horn out of South Carolina, which would be the first time the 49ers have selected a CB in the first round since taking Mike Rumph 27th overall in 2002.
Horn, like recent high picks Javon Kinlaw and Deebo Samuel, is a product of the University of South Carolina, and is the son of four-time Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn.
The 49ers are set to have nearly their entire cornerback group hit free agency. Richard Sherman, Jason Verrett, K’Waun Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon and Jamar Taylor are all set to become unrestricted FAs, while Emmanuel Moseley will be restricted.It’s likely that the 49ers will re-sign a couple of those names, probably either Sherman or Verrett from the unrestricted group and Moseley. Drafting Horn would allow the 49ers to move Moseley to the nickel spot.
Here’s Brugler’s scouting report of Horn:
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Horn started 10 games as a true freshman in 2018. In the second game of his collegiate career, South Carolina played No. 3 Georgia. The Gamecocks got thumped 41-17, but it was clear that day that Horn was one of the few players on the field not in any way intimidated by the Bulldogs. He was consistently scrapping with and talking to Georgia’s players throughout the game, and he continued to play with that same attitude throughout his career.
Horn was the Gamecocks’ most physical and best defensive back for three seasons, but he entered the 2020 season without a career interception, a fact that didn’t escape the notice of his teasing teammates. Horn finally broke through this season in South Carolina’s upset of Auburn. He shut down Tigers wide receiver Seth Williams, another future pro, intercepted two passes and forced another interception.
Horn has decided not to continue playing for the Gamecocks who have three games remaining, saying he’s ready to take the next step in his career after the firing of head coach Will Muschamp. Horn finished his collegiate career with 101 tackles and 23 passes defended.