The San Francisco 49ers acquired an extra first-round pick this offseason and they use it to get top value in this 7-round 2020 mock draft.
Even after representing the NFC in Super Bowl LIV, there were major questions looming about the San Francisco 49ers. Arik Armstead, Emmanuel Sanders and Jimmie Ward headlined the players hitting free agency in the 2020 offseason while guys like DeForest Buckner were looking for an extension. General manager John Lynch, however, has maneuvered deftly through the waves thus far.
Armstead was re-signed to a massive deal, Ward was signed to a great value of a contract and Sanders was allowed to walk. However, the big move for the 49ers was trading Buckner to the Colts for a package headlined by the No. 13 overall pick. That’s huge for San Francisco as they were set to have just one pick (No. 31) in the first four rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft.
So now that 49ers have two key pieces in Armstead and Ward while adding more draft capital. And though they lose Buckner, their depth on the defensive line already helps ease that blow. But now it’s about making their newfound picks worth it. That’s the goal in this post-first-wave free agency 7-round 2020 mock draft.
Prior to the trade with the Colts, one of the biggest issues facing the 49ers was how they could address their biggest needs. Chief among those needs is at cornerback where, despite Richard Sherman playing at an extremely high level last season, San Francisco needs to establish a long-term future. At No. 31, that’s not likely to happen. At No. 13, they can land a player like C.J. Henderson.
Henderson proved everything he needed to at the NFL Combine to show that he can be a No. 1 cornerback in the NFL. From his size, length and athleticism, the Florida product checks all the boxes that you want to see. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com notes the same in his scouting report:
"Silky smooth boundary cornerback with mirror-and-match footwork and the agility and athleticism to stay connected to routes. He has NFL recovery burst and the long speed to track vertical routes downfield. He has the twitchy acceleration to jump a throw and take it away if the quarterback lingers on the target, and he’s quick to wrap and finish after the catch."
In all likelihood, the former Gator could join the 49ers and immediately pair with Sherman as one of the starting boundary corners. In any case, Henderson is a long-term option for the San Francisco secondary and a player who can help maintain the elite performance on that side of the ball for a long time.