© Charles LeClaire | 2019 Aug 31
The 2020 NFL Draft went pretty well for the 49ers. They replaced DeForest Buckner with arguably the best defensive lineman in the draft in Javon Kinlaw. They replaced the retiring Joe Staley with seven-time Pro Bowler Trent Williams in a draft day trade. They picked two wide receivers, in one of the best receiver drafts in recent memory, to compete for Emmanuel Sanders’ vacant spot.
There’s just one omission that stands out: cornerback. Arguably the team’s biggest position of need was not addressed at all. Surprisingly, the 49ers elected to pass on Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall who had improbably fallen to the fifth round, instead selecting OT Colton McKivitz out West Virginia.
With the majority of the 49ers’ secondary scheduled to hit free agency next season, the decision seems a bit curious. Beat writer Matt Barrows hopped on KNBR Monday morning and attempted to explain.
“I think the only explanation is they see that being their big position in 2021,” Barrows said. “Everybody expects the salary cap to go up, so I think there’ll be a free agent signing. Next year’s draft is supposed to be good at cornerback. So this is one they’ve just put down the road a bit to next year.
“Really they are set for this season. They’ve got a lot of guys under contract. It’s next year when the chickens come home to roost as far as all those contracts being up. Richard Sherman’s is up, Ahkello Witherspoon’s is up, I think they can bring back Emmanuel Mosley, but the current contract that he’s on is up, and K’Waun Williams and Jaquiski Tartt are both up, so it’s not just cornerback, it’s safety as well.
“It’s going to be a real revamping of that secondary at some point next year. Probably it will be a mix of guys on the roster now vs. new guys coming in.”
Listen to the full interview below.