NFL draft prospects 49ers should watch in national championship
It all comes down to this. Alabama and Ohio State will battle it out in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship to see which team is the best of the best in an unprecedented season. Both teams are full of future NFL players that will look to make one last statement before the draft.The 49ers hold the No. 12 pick in the draft this year. Here are a handful of players the 49ers should be watching as prospects that could fit them in the first two days of the draft.
The 49ers' biggest roster need as it stands right now is cornerback. They essentially could lose every corner who played significant snaps this season in free agency this offseason. Whether it be in the first round or the second, general manager John Lynch will have to address the position.
Patrick Surtain II is the cream of the crop for corners in the draft. He was a unanimous All-America selection and voted the SEC's Defensive Player of the Year. The lockdown corner had one interception and 11 passes defensed this season. Other teams completely avoid him, and for good reason. The 6-foot-2 corner would be a dream pick for the 49ers.
Leatherwood was named the 2020 Outland Trophy winner, which is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football. He's a four-year player at Alabama who has spent time at both right guard and left tackle.
The 49ers have a Trent Williams decision to make, and of course want to bring back the star left tackle. But San Francisco does have questions throughout its offensive line, and Leatherwood's experience and versatility could be a big factor for the front office. General manager John Lynch should have his eyes on how Leatherwood handles Ohio State's defensive line.
Wade probably has the biggest target on his back in the national championship. He got absolutely cooked by Clemson in the Sugar Bowl and already has called out Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith. Seems like a bad idea.
Coming into the season, Wade was seen as a first-round pick. That isn't the case anymore. The 49ers still should have their eyes on the 6-foot-1 corner as a second-round prospect. He has to be able to back up the talk, or else Wade could be in for a long night against the Crimson Tide.
The final of the draft-eligible cornerbacks to watch in this game is Alabama's Josh Jobe. The junior is a physical corner who had seven tackles against Notre Dame. He has 52 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and 11 passes defensed.
Jobe is faster than he is quick, meaning twitchy receivers can give him trouble. If he does declare for the draft, he could make sense as someone in Round 3 or later in the draft. The 49ers could use as much depth as possible when it comes to their defensive backs.
No, this list isn't just cornerbacks and offensive linemen. We just had to address the two areas of need early on.
Guards don't often go early in the first round, but Davis might be the best one in the draft. He was a unanimous All-America selection and will look to make one more lasting impression on the brightest stage. Watch how he performs against Christian Barmore. The 49ers likely won't take a pure guard in the first round, but Davis would help them from Day 1. If he falls to the second round, he could be a steal.
Hey, another position! But is this a position of need? Not really. However, it sure is fun to think of Harris in a Kyle Shanahan offense.
Raheem Mostert will be back next season, and Jeff Wilson Jr. made a strong case for the 49ers to re-sign him as a restricted free agent. But Mostert will be 29 years old in April and had an injury-ravaged season his first time as a full-time starter.
Harris, an Antioch native, will finish his college career as the best running back in Alabama's storied history when looking at his numbers over four years. His ability to take over a game as a ball-carrier or receiver at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds is special. This might not seem like a big need, but the former Bay Area high school star sure would be a fun 49er in the second round.
We're not going to get into the Jimmy Garoppolo-sized elephant in the room. Let's discuss Jones like the 49ers are exercising the possibility of a QB in the draft this year.
Jones does feel like a prototypical Shanahan quarterback. He's not the greatest athlete, though he did use his legs nicely against Notre Dame. What he does do is make all the right decisions on short and intermediate passes, and while doesn't have the strongest arm, he does throw a beautiful deep ball. The Heisman trophy finalist will look to feast on one last college defense.
Is he worth the No. 12 pick? Probably not. But it only takes one team to fall in love with a prospect, and the 49ers could feel Jones is a win-now QB as a rookie with weapons like Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle around him.
How will Fields follow his historic performance in the Sugar Bowl after throwing six touchdowns? He probably can't top that, but he can again show he's worth the 49ers trading up for.
Fields has everything NFL teams are looking for: Size, speed, arm strength and the ability to make plays outside of the pocket. He showed that on the brightest stage in an upset win over Clemson.
Can he keep it up against Nick Saban's Alabama defense? That's always a tough task, but Fields is the real deal. He has a chance to make Lynch and the rest of the 49ers' front office really wonder what it would take to make him their QB of the future.
