Mock drafts are often overanalyzed and then criticized. In the end, no one can be certain what an NFL team might do. That can be the case leading all the way to draft day.
The San Francisco 49ers are favored in most mocks to upgrade their wide receiver position on April 23. Of course, it wouldn't shock anyone if they went in a different direction, especially if the top three wideouts in this deep class are off the board.
Charles Davis of NFL Network and Fox Sports raised some eyebrows by having the 49ers select cornerback CJ Henderson out of Florida in his latest mock draft. Why the big deal? One of the top-three receivers, Henry Ruggs of Alabama, was still available. He ends up going two picks later to the Denver Broncos.
Davis joined KNBR on Monday and explained the projected selection.
"I looked at it this way: The biggest play of the Super Bowl was probably that 3rd-and-15," Davis shared on the "Tolbert, Krueger and Brooks" show. "And on that play, Ahkello Witherspoon, who had been benched, and rightly so because he hadn't played well; I thought Emmanuel Moseley played much better. But that was a big muff by Emmanuel Moseley.
"A lot of people look back at the safety position, and they shored that up. Jimmie Ward re-signed. Tartt should be healthy next year. I thought that was a big get for them.
"But I think that corner opposite Richard Sherman, and also planning for down the road, because look, Richard Sherman is [32] years old, came back off the Achilles, he has been phenomenal. But you always have to plan for that in those types of positions."
Davis admits that he also considered having San Francisco address the defensive line, given the departure of Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner via a trade. However, he likes Henderson's ability to cover receivers and thinks having Sherman as a mentor will bode well for the incoming rookie.
"Obviously, could they go wide receiver, and add a Ruggs? That might be irresistible for them," Davis adds. "I could understand why they would do it. I just chose to go in a different direction, and went defense first for them."
It is worth noting that Davis does have the 49ers going with a receiver, Brandon Aiyuk of Arizona State, with their second first-round pick, No. 31 overall.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Davis below.
