The 49ers held a digital pre-draft meeting with Notre Dame defensive back prospect Jalen Elliott according to Justin Melo of the Draft Wire.
Elliott isn’t a big-time prospect thanks to sub-par speed and relatively limited production in college. He spent four years with the Fighting Irish and pulled down six interceptions with 11 pass breakups in 44 games. Most of his productivity came in 2018 when he had four interceptions and seven pass breakups.
An intriguing wrinkle in Elliott’s NFL projection came at the Senior Bowl though when he thrived at corner. Jim Nagy, the executive director of the Senior Bowl, tweeted after the weekend in Mobile, Ala. that Elliott, “legitimately looked like he could play CB at next level.”
The typical physical traits of a corner aren’t there for Elliott, especially the 4.8-second 40-yard dash he ran at the NFL combine. However, he has terrific size and strength that could make him a problem for receivers.
If the 49ers are aiming for a multifaceted defensive back prospect who can play special teams for a year or two while working to develop as a cornerback, Elliott could be a player they have circled on Day 3 or perhaps after the draft as an undrafted free agent if he isn’t picked up.
San Francisco under general manager John Lynch hasn’t hesitated to take a defensive back and move him out of his natural position. If the Senior Bowl was any indication, Elliott could be next in line.
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