Pre-Senior Bowl 7-Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft
- Round 1, choose 12: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
- Round 2, choose 43: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
- Round 4, choose 107: Drake Jackson, OC, Kentucky
- Round 5, choose 138: Dazz Newsome, WR, North Carolina
- Round 5, choose 156: Camryn Bynum, CB, California
- Round 6, choose 169: Richard LeCounte III, S, Georgia
- Round 6, choose 192: Pooka Williams Jr., RB, Kansas
- Round 7, choose 202: Jordon Scott, DT, Oregon
49ers 2021 NFL Mock Draft pick-by-pick analysis
Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Virginia Tech’s cornerback Caleb Farley’s 2019 ribbon is good enough to be one of the top 10 choices in its own right. When that tape is eventually complemented by how he will do the athletic test, there will be little doubt that he is the first cornerback to be cast. This is especially true considering that he has only been playing cornerback for two years.
The recent conversation around the position is the debate between Surtain and Jaycee Horn of South Carolina. Who should 49ers look for as a replacement for Richard Sherman? Horn is a dog. He’s a cornerback who wants to punch him in the mouth and then hit his face after the whistle. But if the 49ers continue to play a lot of “quarters” and “bail bonds three”, the most conservative route would be to summon Surtain.
Surtain’s style fits better than Horn
Surtain is more the mold of the son of the ex-NFL great than Horn. His technical proficiency is excellent. The open attitude you get from Horn is present in the scrimmage line with Surtain, but in a more controlled package.
Surtain’s biggest advantage comes from Nick Saban’s defensive system. The Saban system, like San Francisco, is primarily a three-game MOFC system. Former Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs once told me about the size of Saban’s defensive handbook, to my horror.
But it shows that Surtain can handle all the coverage checks needed to be in the right place at the right time. He may only have a long marginal speed, but his physicality, fluidity and ability to diagnose leverage allow him to rotate and load receivers vertically, despite not having that elite physical trait.
It also has the ideal size for a three cornerback cover at 6 feet-2, more than 200 pounds. There will be more minor layout adjustments later in this 7-round 49ers Mock Draft.
Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
In this simulation, the 49ers cannot retain Trent Williams and need a new starting left tackle. Normally, there would be almost no chance of replacing an initial left tackle, even at the start of Round 2, but the NFL’s 2021 Draft is different. The top of the 2020 class had more top talent than this year, but 2021 has six to eight players in the offensive attack.
However, only a few will eventually become quality starters because of the law on averages, but the ability to make one in a plug-and-play situation exists.
Leatherwood is a blunt blocker in the racing game and a sufficient pass protector. He goes down against power rushers relatively easily and has enough athletic ability to beat most blockers to the set point in most vertical series. Fortunately for him, the 49ers’ pass attack will work to its strengths (as it remains similar to the current form). Fast 45-degree arrows and work out of play is similar to Alabama’s pass attack, and that’s where it thrives.
In the racing game, he is athletic enough to take down defenders like the back blocker in the outer zone and can move well enough to work in space as the front blocker. He also has experience as a guard, which means that if there are difficulties in tackling to the left (or even if they resume Williams), he can play in any guard position.
Drake Jackson, OC, Kentucky
Getting a player like Jackson in this 49ers 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft is a potential theft. This young man is a trash can full of dirt. Jackson’s frame is ready for the NFL, and the lack of positional value in the center puts him out of the top 100, despite being someone who can fight for an opening spot as a newbie.
Due to its lack of length and just enough athletics, it seems more suitable for a gap / power rushing attack, but the player in a vacuum is worth a larger draft selection, so the value is more than worth it in this case.
As a pass protector, that guard level frame helps you “anchor” against strikes of strength, and the flexibility of your lower body allows you to re-establish your anchor. He is lightning fast from blow to blow, and there were no cases on the tape seen of striking snapshots off target.
Dazz Newsome, WR, North Carolina
Enjoy while it lasts in the simulator because there is a good chance that Newsome will be in the top 100. However, it would not be the first time that a beloved wide receiver of the media does not go as high as we believe.
The problem with the first simulated 7-round sketches like this for 49ers is the draft values that will change and possibly develop over time. The receivers are much more of an “ice cream flavor” business. They need to adjust to the system they are going to. Newsome adds a layer to the slot and is a legitimate three-tier threat due to its speed and speed.
This speed is perfect for 49ers. Garoppolo had the second smallest intended aerial yard of any quarterback during his time playing in 2020 at 6.2 yards. He followed only Alex Smith. Newsome’s speed of separation is excellent and its ability to open quickly from the slot allows for easy conclusions and YAC opportunities. However, as we all know, YAC is the best friend of a mediocre (or young) quarterback.
Camryn Bynum, CB, California
Bynum is one of the players in the 2021 class who looks like he’s been playing college football for 17 years. Since its second season, the California cornerback has attracted attention by playing alongside names like Ashtyn Davis and Jaylinn Hawkins. He is another six-foot-eight cornerback that weighs over 200 pounds and is best suited for a three-cover role. He is smooth and transitions well, but his long speed will limit his advantage in the league.
He played a lot of football for California and understands his athletic limitations and works to stay safe in his style of play. He won’t get his hands on many passes, but as a deep piece in the cornerback, he provides a safe option that can play snaps without killing the defense.
Richard LeCounte III, S, Georgia
Jimmy Ward is a free safety according to the list. However, he played the same number of snaps in the box and in the slot he played in the backend. Ward is his all-rounder, as he can do a little of everything. This gives them the freedom to carry true free security on this 7-round 49ers Mock Draft.
LeCounte is perfect as a safety cap for three. He is incredibly instinctive and his ball production speaks for itself, and has improved in the five games he played in 2020. He comes from the Kirby Smart system (a Saban pupil) and is best served by working in more condensed spaces. His lack of athletic ability prevents him from being a sought-after candidate, but his intelligence allows him to be a starter and fight for playing time.
Pooka Williams Jr., RB, Kansas
Williams only realistically fits into a wide-zone scheme, and we know that Shanahan and his company love fast running backs. Oh, and they like cheap backs too.
He will not break many tackles, and if contacted on the line, the game is over. However, if it has space, it can cut gaps on the outside and has lateral agility to drive for cutting in wide-area looks. It can also be used as a moving weapon and as a back receiver.
Jordon Scott, DT, Oregon
The 49ers 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft is complete without a nose tackle. Darrion Daniels and Scott must battle for the spot alongside Javon Kinlaw.
Scott has played a lot of football for the Ducks in the past four years. He never produced at a high level. He doesn’t have the athletic build to make a big impact from the point of view of production at the NFL level. But it has value. Its robust structure and good anchor allow 49ers athletic linebackers to flow into football. He probably won’t smell the field on pass downs. Still, getting someone who could give teams a chance so late in the draft is a victory.