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2021 NFL Draft: 49ers eyeing EDGE, secondary help?

By Nicholas McGee

Dec 5, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Daelin Hayes (9) intercepts a pass in the third quarter against the Syracuse Orange at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Daelin Hayes (9) intercepts a pass in the third quarter against the Syracuse Orange at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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The San Francisco 49ers have needs at edge rusher and in the secondary to address this offseason, and they met with two prospects who could help him do so during the Senior Bowl.

According to Justin Melo of The Draft Wire, Notre Dame edge rusher Daelin Hayes and San Diego State cornerback Darren Hall each said they had a “great meeting” with San Francisco during their time in Mobile.

Adding pass rush depth should be high on the agenda for the 49ers, who will have 2019 second overall pick and Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa coming back off a torn ACL. Dee Ford is a potential cap casualty for San Francisco — which owns the 12th overall pick in the first round — after playing in just one game last season while Kerry Hyder could be expensive to re-sign after a 8.5 sack season in 2020.

Get to know potential 49ers targets

Hayes appears likely to be a late day two or early day-three pick but flashed enough potential at the Senior Bowl to suggest he could provide value at that point in the draft. He displayed power and a series of pass-rush moves, with the swim, rip and jump-club all evidently part of his arsenal.

Hall also figures to be a later-round option for San Francisco, which could lose several corners in free agency, with Jason Verrett, Richard Sherman and starting nickel K’Waun Williams among those heading for unrestricted free agency.

The former Aztec also caught the eye in practice and, though he measured just under 6 feet, the Niners may well be intrigued by his on-ball production. Hall had 16 passes defensed and one interception in 2019 and followed that up with six breakups and three picks in 2020.

Pre-draft meetings are not always indicators of the direction a team will go in the draft. However, the Niners talking with Hayes and Hall may suggest they know there will have to be big changes on the edge and in the secondary.

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In an offseason where so many are focused on San Francisco’s future at quarterback, how the Niners retool their top-10 defense could be pivotal to their hopes of getting back to playoff contention in 2021.