We are less than a month out from the NFL Draft. While the 49ers won’t select on the first night, the team has nine draft picks over the final six rounds, starting with the 61st overall pick in the second round.
How the 49ers choose to prioritize that pick is up for some debate. There’s thought to adding a tackle to replace Mike McGlinchey who can start at guard, a future center to replace Alex Mack, a defensive end to pair with Nick Bosa, or as ESPN’s Todd McShay suggested on Wednesday, a safety.
San Francisco hasn’t officially parted ways with Jaquiski Tartt, but he is currently a free agent, and they added special teams ace and potential starter George Odum on a three-year deal this offseason, with Tarvarius Moore and Talanoa Hufanga both returning.
But there’s some thought to prioritizing safety early regardless of Tartt’s situation, with Jimmie Ward sitting on the final year of his deal.
So at pick 61, McShay has the 49ers selecting the University of Maryland’s Nick Cross:
“Welcome to the draft, San Francisco!” McShay writes. “With Jimmie Ward entering the final year of his deal, the Niners might look to the secondary here. At 6-foot and 212 pounds, Cross has great size, center fielder speed and plenty of versatility.”
Here’s what Cross’ highlights look like:
He is a freak athlete with roughly average size for his position, testing extremely well at the combine. Per RAS Football, Scott has a relative athletic score of 9.87 out of 10 for the safety position. His 4.34-second 40-yard dash ranks in the 99.9th percentile at the position and was the eighth-fastest overall at the 2022 combine.
An All-Big 10 player who leaves college as a junior, Cross finished his final season with 66 tackles, 3 interceptions and 3 sacks.