With The First Pick
Fansided

Biggest NFL Draft need for each team in the NFC West in 2022

By Andrew Lamers

A video board displays the text "THE PICK IS IN" for the Seattle Seahawks during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft . (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
A video board displays the text "THE PICK IS IN" for the Seattle Seahawks during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft . (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan (left) and general manager John Lynch. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

San Francisco 49ers: Cornerback

We are going from the two most disappointing teams in the division to the most surprising team. The San Francisco 49ers defied all odds this postseason by defeating the high-powered Dallas Cowboys at their place in the Wild Card round and then defeating the mighty Green Bay Packers at Lambeau in the snow during the Divisional round.

One of the reasons the 49ers are being considered a surprising team is because of two big losses on the defense. During the 2021 offseason, they lost defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to be the new head coach of the New York Jets. They also chose not to re-sign star veteran cornerback Richard Sherman before the start of the 2021 season.

Even with those losses, the 49ers defense still managed to end 2021 in the top 10 in points against, yards against, and average yards per play. However, they were tied with fourth-fewest interceptions, tied for third in highest completion percentage, and were third lowest in passes defended. Besides that, they don’t have much for proven, quality cornerbacks on their roster. It’s time for an upgrade in the secondary.

Who the 49ers could target in the draft:

As it stands right now, the 49ers do not pick until #61 overall due to them trading picks with the Miami Dolphins last year in order to draft backup quarterback Trey Lance. Some players that San Francisco could target in that area would be University of Washington’s Kyler Gordon, Clemson University’s Mario Goodrich, or University of Cincinnati’s Coby Bryant.

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