The 49ers had an ideal first round despite picking only once with the No. 2 overall selection. They took edge rusher Nick Bosa, and then avoided a run on defensive backs or wide receivers. That leaves a ton of talent available on Day 2 where the 49ers will hold pick No. 36 – fourth overall in the second round.
Here are the five best players on the board to start Day 2:
AJ Brown, WR, Ole Miss
Brown looked like a first-round lock, but he slid out of Round 1 with Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown and Arizona State’s N’Keal Harry the only receivers taken. The Ole Miss product checks all the boxes for San Francisco with a 6-0, 226-pound frame and the well-rounded skill set to play in the slot or outside. There isn’t a better fit to replace Pierre Garçon in this draft, and the 49ers should jump at the chance to take him.
Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
An all-around safety prospect to plug into the mix in the secondary would be a fine pick for San Francisco at No. 36. Adderley can cover running backs, tight ends and receivers, line up in the box, or line up as a free safety. Adding a high-quality player who can line up in multiple spots would immediately make a porous 49ers secondary better.
Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
Samuel stood out at the Senior Bowl with his refined route running and strong releases at the line of scrimmage. He checks a ton of boxes for San Francisco, and is close behind Brown as an ideal fit at Z receiver. Head coach Kyle Shanahan likes versatile receivers. Samuel returned kicks, ran the ball, and produced as a pass catcher. Samuel would be a fine consolation if Brown doesn’t fall to 36.
Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
It looked like Williams would be the first corner off the board, but he fell out of the first round. His length and athleticism are an ideal fit across from Richard Sherman, and would make him a perfect replacement for the aging corner when he retires. Corner isn’t at the top of the 49ers’ list of needs, but if Williams is there at No. 36, it would be a tremendous value pick that adds a top-end corner to the top of San Francisco’s depth chart.
Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia
Some analysts had Thornhill at the top of the safety class. He’s a converted corner with terrific coverage skills, but a nose for the ball that better suits a safety. He has good size at 6-0, 205 pounds, and sensational athleticism to go with it. Thornhill is a plug-and-play playmaker who might wind up being a game-changing player in the right system. San Francisco could use him in multiple spots right away.
