The 49ers’ cornerback situation beyond the 2020 season is precarious at best. It’s why finding a player at that position in this year’s draft who can help beyond 2020 is so important. They’ve already met with several cornerback prospects, and now they can add one with maybe the best name in the draft to the list.
San Diego State corner Luqman Barcoo told Draft Wire’s Justin Melo that the 49ers are among several teams showing strong interest in him leading up to the NFL draft.
Barcoo was a two-way junior college star who pulled down three interceptions on defense during his two years at Grossmont College. In 2017 as a receiver he had 35 catches for 767 yards and seven touchdowns.
He transferred to San Diego State and played well in a reserve role his junior year. Barcoo had an interception and four pass breakups that season before breaking out as a senior.
In his final college season, Barcoo racked up nine interceptions and 16 pass breakups on his way to becoming a Third-Team All-American. His nine interceptions were the most in San Diego State’s D-I history, and tied for first in the country among FBS schools.
Barcoo stands at 6-1 with good length, but he’s listed on the San Diego State athletics website at 175 pounds. That’ll probably need to climb some if he’s going to compete with NFL receivers. There aren’t a lot of plays on tape where Barcoo gets flat out beat, and he uses his length well to get around receivers to bat down passes.
If the 49ers don’t wind up investing in a cornerback early, a player like Barcoo with good physical traits and elite production makes a lot of sense later in the draft as a project who can be a factor beyond 2020.