Ideal team-prospect fits for the 2021 NFL Draft

NFL Team: San Francisco 49ers – Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia

Eric Stokes

If you have followed me this off-season and listened to my recent breakdown of all the quarterbacks that could be on the move this off-season, you know that I would love to see the 49ers trade for Deshaun Watson. I believe they have to upgrade at the most important position, to put themselves in a championship window, since I think they have everything else in place.

However, assuming they bring back Trent Williams and all the guys that got hurt for them last season, the one position I think they could still need the most help with is cornerback.

Richard Sherman already has a foot out the door and tempering with Jon Gruden on a Pro Football Focus podcast, I’m not sure how much of the cap they want to invest in a position that usually doesn’t get paid a ton in that system.

Now looking at the NFL Draft – in the eight to ten range - there are three teams that could easily go corner, and I would think the top two will be off the board once the Niners pick at twelve. Moreover, that selection could be part of a trade package anyway.

So instead, I’m wondering what options could be available to them in the second round. And the one that really sticks out to me is that guy from Georgia, who played like the second-best player at his position last season.

Eric Stokes has the physicality and length to challenge receivers at the line in press. He also excels in pushing those guys into the sideline and not getting beaten over the top as part of a cover-three heavy defense.

I think he is getting overlooked, but he could be a high-value pick for San Francisco if he’s there in round two. Of course, rookies have a certain learning curve. But Stokes is so fundamentally sound that I expect him to potentially be an upgrade over Sherm pretty soon, especially when it comes to the speed in carrying vertically.