The 2022 NFL Draft is loaded with cornerbacks at the top. With no first-round pick, it could be said that the San Francisco 49ers are SOL when it comes to grabbing a future starter at the position next April. However, there are potential stars-in-the-making the 49ers could find throughout the draft.
Front-loaded class of 2022 NFL Draft cornerbacks
With four potential first-round cornerbacks in the 2022 draft, the market value for corners in the later rounds may be driven up. As such, San Francisco might be wise to grab a cornerback high on their board with their first pick. Unfortunately, that pick comes in the second round. They’re currently projected to have the 52nd overall selection.
2022 second-round cornerback options for San Francisco
If they do attack cornerback in the second round, here are some of the options likely to be available. This assumes Derek Stingley Jr., Ahmad Gardner, Kaiir Elam, and Andrew Booth Jr all go in the first round.
Trent McDuffie, Washington
Largely locking down the outside for UW, Trent McDuffie is very experienced through three seasons at Washington. He may lack in production (interceptions and pass breakups), but that is in no way an indication of poor play. McDuffie simply locks down receivers in his coverage and forces quarterbacks to look elsewhere. With solid size, he won’t lack anything physically, either.
Kyler Gordon, Washington
A big man on the outside, Kyler Gordon emerged opposite McDuffie this past season. What McDuffie lacked in production, Gordon more than made up for with 2 interceptions and a handful more breakups.
Gordon is sticky in coverage and moves very well in both forward-and rear-facing coverage. He plays a physical brand of coverage to boot, fitting in nicely with San Francisco’s scheme.
Derion Kendrick, Georgia
Once considered a potential first-round pick, Derion Kendrick transferred for one more season in college. Despite Georgia’s success this year, Kendrick didn’t quite lock down the first round, but that level of talent is still there. He excels when he’s targeted, making play after play on the ball. Kendrick adjusted to the scheme at Georgia quickly, proving he’s ready to adjust to the NFL all the same.
Roger McCreary, Auburn
With some of the class’ longest arms, Roger McCreary may also have some of the best range. He certainly is one of the most experienced cornerbacks after playing four seasons at Auburn. McCreary is best in man coverage and has a knack for making plays on the ball. With dozens of pass breakups to his credit, as well as 6 career interceptions, McCreary’s level of production against top-flight competition is difficult to find this far down in the draft.
Garrett Williams, Syracuse
Garrett Williams surprisingly has a ton of experience for a redshirt freshman. Sure, he’s not actually a freshman, as spent three years on the Syracuse roster, each one more productive than the other. He’s long, fast, and athletic, sticking with his receivers in coverage and making excellent plays on the ball.
Depth options for 2022 NFL Draft Cornerbacks
If the 49ers don’t make the decision to target a cornerback with their first pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, there are still some versatile and viable options available in the later rounds.
Cornerback options for Rounds 3-5
With a singular pick in each of Rounds 3, 4, and 5, the 49ers would be wise to grab at least one of these potential future starters.
Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn
The new prototype at cornerback, Nehemiah Pritchett stands 6’1″, 180 pounds. He utilizes that length to his advantage, routinely swatting away inaccurate passes thrown in his direction. Pritchett may have not lived up to his sophomore season’s status, but that elite level of play is clearly there.
Tariq Woolen, UTSA
A converted wide receiver, Tariq Woolen is a massive man at cornerback. At 6’4″, 205 pounds, Woolen also has a 4.34-laser-timed 40-yard dash to his credit as well. A man that big and that fast shouldn’t be able to cover as he does, yet he makes it work.
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He landed on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List because of that physical prowess, and he showcased it time and time again on the field for UTSA. The sky is truly the limit for Woolen at cornerback — or even as a rangy safety in the NFL.
Coby Bryant, Cincinnati
The Jim Thorpe Award winner for the 2021 season, Coby Bryant made the most of Ahmad Gardner locking down one side of the field for Cincinnati. With terrific size and perhaps even better coverage skills, Bryant put five years’ worth of experience at Cincinnati on film, with quite the crescendo this past season. He’s made 10 career interceptions and dozens more pass breakups. Bryant would be a rock-solid addition to any secondary.
Other names to know in Rounds 3-5: Jalyn Armour-Davis, Alabama; Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU; Alontae Taylor, Tennessee; Josh Jobe, Alabama; Tariq Castro-Fields, Penn State.
Cornerback options for Rounds 6-7
The 49ers have three more picks in the final two rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Even if they attack cornerback in the earlier rounds, no team has enough quality cornerbacks on their roster nowadays in the NFL. Some more options could present themselves in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Marcus Jones, Houston
Though he is a better return specialist than he is cornerback, that is not a slight to Marcus Jones’ ability to cover. He’s just that special in the return game. Jones is sticky in coverage as well and routinely finds the football in all types of coverages. Combine that with his special return ability, and you’ve got a multi-talented player in the later rounds.
Allie Green IV, Missouri
After transferring to Missouri to hopefully elevate his draft stock, Allie Green IV‘s 2021 season didn’t quite go as planned. Still, at 6’2″, 202 pounds, Green is a big man with great hips. He can move and sticks with all types of receivers, excelling in press-man coverage.
Jermaine Waller, Virginia Tech
Though Jermaine Waller could have entered the draft a season ago, he opted to return to Blacksburg for one more year. All he did in that campaign was record 4 interceptions and cement his status as one of the more productive cornerbacks in Virginia Tech history. Waller may lack high-pointing ability at the catch point, but he has solid coverage skills that would be of great use in the NFL.
Other names to know in Rounds 6-7: Shaun Jolly, Appalachian State; Joey Porter Jr., Penn State; B.J. Foster, Texas; Jaydon Grant, Oregon State; Chris Steele, USC.
