The San Francisco 49ers’ list of draft needs could be altered dramatically over the couple of months leading into free agency. Two spots, offensive line and cornerback, both look like they’ll remain relatively high on the club’s priority list. San Francisco hit both of those needs in a two-round projection posted by Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling.
In this version of the draft, the 49ers select No. 14 and snag South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn.
Horn, listed at 6-1, 205 pounds, played in seven games for the Gamecocks this season before option out for the remainder of the year to prepare for the NFL draft. The only two interceptions of Horn’s career came this season, and he posted 23 pass breakups over his three years at South Carolina. It remains to be seen whether an early opt-out will affect Horn’s draft stock, but early on in the process he looks like a player who could step in and start for the cornerback-needy 49ers on Day 1.
The 49ers’ second pick, which came at No. 45, addressed their need on the offensive line with Alabama’s Landon Dickerson. He has tremendous size for an interior lineman at 6-6, 325 pounds and could be perhaps one of the best two or three players on the Tide’s offense. Dickerson had an injury-ravaged three seasons with Florida State before transferring to Alabama last year. He played right guard last year before transitioning and thriving at center this season. A versatile player like Dickerson would be a nice fit for a 49ers offensive front that desperately needs help inside.