49ers Trade Up for a Cornerback in Latest Mock Draft

"Whether it's for a cornerback like McKinstry, an offensive lineman or a receiver, the 49ers could very well give up a mid-round pick to acquire one of the few missing pieces on an otherwise potent roster."

The NFL Draft is less than a week away, and it's still anyone's guess as to what the 49ers will do in Round 1.

The latest guess comes from NFL.com's Chad Reuter, who projects the 49ers to trade up with the Green Bay Packers for pick no. 25 and to draft Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.

"Whether it's for a cornerback like McKinstry, an offensive lineman or a receiver, the 49ers could very well give up a mid-round pick to acquire one of the few missing pieces on an otherwise potent roster," writes Reuter.

I agree with most of his logic. The 49ers absolutely could trade up for an offensive lineman or a wide receiver. But I highly doubt they'll trade up for a cornerback, even one as talented as McKinstry.

Why?

Because the 49ers haven't drafted a defensive back before Round 3 since John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan joined the team in 2017. Those two simply don't value defensive backs highly, which is ironic considering Lynch is a Hall of Fame safety.

But the 49ers don't play much man-to-man coverage -- they mostly play zone, which doesn't require the best athletes in the world in the defensive backfield. So they mostly bargain shop.

In addition, Lynch and Shanahan have drafted only two Alabama players: Reuben Foster and Cameron Latu, and both were complete busts. So I'd be surprised if the 49ers rolled the dice on another player from Nick Saban's program.

If the 49ers trade up, I'd expect them to trade into the teens for a wide receiver such as Brian Thomas Jr.