While most draft analysts project the San Francisco 49ers to target an offensive or defensive lineman in the first round, NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah sees the team going in a different direction. Initially, he had the 49ers selecting Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou in his first mock draft for NFL.com. However, in his latest projection, he has San Francisco selecting Michigan cornerback Will Johnson with the 11th overall pick.
"Johnson is a scheme fit and his size will play well in a division featuring wide receivers built like power forwards," Jeremiah explained.
Adding a cornerback makes sense. The 49ers will likely lose starter Charvarius Ward in free agency. They may seek to bolster the secondary rather than relying solely on second-year player Renardo Green to line up opposite Deommodore Lenoir.
Of course, passing on an offensive or defensive lineman might be tough, as those are considered greater areas of need. The 49ers could opt to address their secondary in later rounds instead. As for offensive line prospects, Jeremiah has LSU's Will Campbell and Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr. off the board before San Francisco's first pick.
Meanwhile, he has Membou going to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 14 and Ohio State's Josh Simmons landing with the Green Bay Packers at No. 23—two other prospects frequently linked to the 49ers.
Johnson (6-2, 202) appeared in just six games this past season due to a shoulder contusion and a turf toe injury. Despite the missed time, he recorded 14 tackles (one for a loss) and two interceptions—both returned for touchdowns.
Over three seasons with the Wolverines, Johnson amassed 68 tackles (four for a loss), nine interceptions, three touchdowns, and 10 passes defensed.
"Teams love big, fluid cornerbacks with ball production and that is exactly what Johnson offers," NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein wrote in his draft profile of Johnson. "He's instinctive and plays with good body control and change of direction in space. He can play man coverage, but he's at his best when playing with his eyes forward instead of chasing routes downfield.
"Johnson displays good pre-snap recognition and can read and anticipate routes/throws at a high level. While he plays the role of thief in coverage, he needs to balance that mentality with a healthy respect for NFL route runners. He has coveted traits and his areas of concern don't stand out as significant impediments to what could become a long, successful career as a future Pro Bowler."