Wilson falls to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 4 overall. The two other top quarterback prospects — Justin Fields and Trey Lance — are off the board before the San Francisco 49ers select at No. 12. That leaves the team adding to the defensive backfield by selecting former Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
"The likely departure of Richard Sherman could prompt John Lynch to prioritize finding a premier cover corner over draft weekend," explains Brooks.
Surtain is the son of All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain Sr. The young defender racked up 116 tackles, six tackles for a loss, four interceptions, a touchdown, 24 passes defensed, and four forced fumbles during his three seasons with the Crimson Tide. That includes the 37 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, one interception, one touchdown, and nine passes defensed he had as a junior this past season.
Surtain was a 2020 Consensus All-American and named the 2020 SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Brooks had the 49ers selecting former South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn in his previous mock draft from February.
The 2021 NFL Draft is scheduled to begin on April 29.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
2025 NFL Draft Order: 49ers' first-round draft pick scenarios
The San Francisco 49ers' highest potential draft pick in three years will be determined by today's results. The San Francisco 49ers showed resilience in a hard-fought defeat to the Detroit Lions last Monday night, with backups and newcomers providing notable contributions in... -
NFL Draft 2025: Should 49ers tank? Week 17 rooting guide
San Francisco 49ers fan guide to Sunday's games and the teams that will determine the Niners' draft position. 49ers fans have quickly pivoted their focus from playoff aspirations to the sobering reality of draft position scenarios, and the dreaded word: tanking. However, those... -
How the 49ers can secure a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
The San Francisco 49ers face slim odds of landing a top-nine pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Carolina Panthers and New York Jets, sitting at 4-11 heading into Week 17, hold the eighth and ninth spots, respectively. Overtaking either team seems unlikely for the 6-9 49ers. The... -
49ers mailbag: Why did SF abandon the run against Detroit? Will the 49ers focus on offense or defense this offseason? Will SF replace Nick Sorensen with Robert Saleh?
There are a lot of questions that will follow the San Francisco 49ers into the offseason. Who will get extensions? Who will be let go? What moves will they make in free agency and the draft? And many more. You have questions, as well, and that's a good thing because we opened...