© Brett Rojo | 2019 Nov 2
After seeing what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, you could understand why the 49ers would be interested in drafting another defensive player in the first round. That’s what ESPN’s Todd McShay has San Francisco doing in his latest mock draft, but not at No. 12.
McShay believes the Bears will look to move up to draft a quarterback, specifically Alabama’s Mac Jones, and with the 49ers apparently comfortable in rolling with Jimmy Garoppolo next season, they accept a trade for a bevy of picks. San Francisco would get Chicago’s 20th overall pick, along with a second-rounder (No. 52), and a first or second rounder next season.
So what do the 49ers do at No. 20? McShay has them selecting safety Trevon Moehrig out of TCU, a replacement for Jaquiski Tartt who is expected to sign elsewhere in free agency.
Moehrig, 21, won the Jim Thorpe award in 2020, given annually to the best defensive back in college football. He’s a two-time 1st Team All-Big 12 selection. Moehrig picked off six passes in two seasons for the Horned Frogs. Here’s McShay’s breakdown:
Remember that we had the Niners trade back to this spot. The Garoppolo decision looms large for the Niners’ draft plan, and what happens there might not only keep San Francisco from trading down but might even influence a trade up into the top 10. For now, though, let’s fixate on a secondary losing many pieces. Safety Jimmie Ward is currently the only defensive back on the entire roster under contract beyond next season. Perhaps the 49ers look to cornerbacks Jaycee Horn (South Carolina) or Aaron Robinson (UCF), but the value and need of Moehrig is just too great to miss. He’s my No. 13 prospect and picked off six passes over the past two seasons.