Pre-Senior Bowl 7-Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft
- Round 1, Pick 12: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
- Round 2, pick 43: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
- Round 4, Pick 107: Drake Jackson, OC, Kentucky
- Round 5, Pick 138: Dazz Newsome, WR, North Carolina
- Round 5, Pick 156: Camryn Bynum, CB, California
- Round 6, Pick 169: Richard LeCounte III, S, Georgia
- Round 6, Pick 192: Pooka Williams Jr., RB, Kansas
- Round 7, Pick 202: Jordon Scott, DT, Oregon
49ers 2021 NFL Mock Draft Pick-For-Pick Analysis
Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley’s band from 2019 is good enough to be a top-10 pick in itself. When the band is finally complemented by how he will test athletically, there will be little doubt that he is the first corner kick. This is especially true as he has only been playing in the cornerback for two years.
The recent conversation surrounding the position is the debate between Surtain and Jaycee Horn, South Carolina. Who should the 49ers look to as Richard Sherman’s replacement? Horn is a dog. He’s a whistleblower who wants to hit you in the mouth and then come to the whistle in your face. But if the 49ers continue in the direction of playing lots of “quarters” and “push bail coverage three,” the more conservative way is to draft Surtain.
Curtain’s style fits better than Horn’s
Curtain is more the form of the son of the former NFL big man than Horn. His technical skill is outstanding. The open attitude you get from Horn is present in the line of Surtain, but in a more controlled package.
The biggest plus with Surtain is the Nick Saban defense system. The Saban system, just like San Francisco, is primarily a three-system system of MOFC (middle of the field closed). Former Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs once told me to my horror about the sheer size of Saban’s defensive playbook.
But it shows that Surtain can handle all the coverage checks needed to be in the right place at the right time. He may have only a marginally long speed, but his physicality, fluidity, and ability to diagnose the lever enable him to carry and carry receivers vertically, even though he does not have that physical trait.
He also owns the ideal size for a cover of three angles at 6 feet-2, 200 plus pounds. There will be more secondary scheme fit later in this 49ers 7-round Mock Draft.
Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
In this simulation, the 49ers cannot retain Trent Williams and need a new leftist approach. Normally, there would be almost no chance of replacing a starting plane even early in Round 2, but the 2021 NFL concept is different. The top of the 2020 class had more blue-chip talent than this year, but by 2021, six to eight players are deep in attack.
Because of the law of averages, only a few will end up being a good appetizer, but the ability to take one in a plug-and-play situation is there.
Leatherwood is a bruise blocker in the running game and an adequate pass protector. He races relatively comfortably against power hunters and has enough athleticism to beat most blockers in most vertical sets to the set point. Luckily for him, the 49ers punch will work to his strengths (as it remains similar to its current form.) Fast 45-degree sets and finishes are similar to the Alabama offense, and this is where he thrives. .
In the running game, he is athletic enough to knock down defenders as the back blocker in the outside zone and can move well enough to work in space as the front blocker. He also has experience as a guard, meaning that if there is a struggle with the left tackle (or even if they sign Williams again), he can play at any of the guard positions.
Drake Jackson, OC, Kentucky
Getting a player like Jackson in this 49ers 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft is a possible steal. This young man is a trash can full of dirt. Jackson’s framework is ready for the NFL, and the lack of positional value in the middle lands him just outside the top 100, even though he’s someone who can fight for a starting spot as a rookie.
Due to his lack of height and only adequate athleticism, he seems better suited for a gap / power rushing attack, but the player in a vacuum is worth choosing a higher draft choice, so the value is in this case more than worth it.
As a pass-through protector, the frame of the protection level helps it to anchor against power surges, and its flexibility in the lower body enables it to re-establish its anchor. He is lightning fast from snap to strike, and no cases have been seen in the band of serious outbursts.
Dazz Newsome, WR, North Carolina
Enjoy it while it lasts in the simulator, as Newsome is a top-100 choice. However, it would also not be the first time that a media darling wide receiver does not go as high as we believe.
The problem with early 7-round Mock Drafts like this for the 49ers is the draft values that will change over time and possibly expand themselves. Recipients are very much a “taste of ice cream” act. They need to adapt to the system they are going for. Newsome adds a layer from the slot and is a legal threat on three levels because of its speed and speed.
That speed is perfect for the 49ers. During his time in 2020 at 6.2 meters, Garoppolo had the second shortest aerial flight of any quarter. He just followed Alex Smith. Newsome’s separation speed is outstanding, and its ability to open quickly from the lock allows for easy completions and YAC opportunities. Yet, as we all know, YAC is a mediocre (or young) quarterback’s best friend.
Camryn Bynum, CB, California
Bynum is one of the players in the 2021 class who feels that they have been playing college football for 17 years now. Since his second season, the California cornerback has been getting draft buzz while playing alongside names like Ashtyn Davis and Jaylinn Hawkins. He is another six-foot corner foot that weighs more than 200 kilograms and is best suited for a film in the cover. He is smooth and passes well, but his long speed will limit his upside in the league.
He has played a lot of football for California and he understands his athletic limitations and works to stay safe in his playing style. He will not get much passing in his hands, but as a depth on the corner, he offers a safe option that can play snaps without killing the defense.
Richard LeCounte III, S, Georgia
According to the roster, Jimmy Ward is a free security. However, he played the same amount of screenshots in the box and slot as in the back. Ward is their defender because he can do a little bit of everything. It gives them the freedom to take real free safety in this 49ers 7-round Mock Draft.
LeCounte is perfect as a cover three security. He is incredibly instinctive, and his ball production speaks for itself, and it improves in the five games he played in 2020. It comes from the Kirby Smart system (a Saban mentee) and is best for working in more condensed spaces. His lack of athletics holds him back from being a very popular prospect, but his intelligence allows him to be a good starter and fight for playing time.
Pooka Williams Jr., RB, Kansas
Williams just fits realistically into a wide zone scheme, and we know that Shanahan and the company are running very fast. Oh, and they also like cheap backs.
He will not break many tackles, and if he is contacted on the line, it’s done. However, if he gets space, he can reduce the gaps on the outside and have the lateral dexterity to drive in a wide zone appearance after the cut. He can also be used as a moving weapon and as a receiving back.
Jordon Scott, DT, Oregon
No 49ers NFL Mock Draft of 1921 in 7 rounds is completely without a nosebleed. Darrion Daniels and Scott have to fight for the starting spot with Javon Kinlaw.
Scott has played a lot of football for the Ducks over the past four years. He never produced at a high level. He does not have the athletics to make a big impact from a production standpoint at the NFL level. But he does have value. His solid frame and good anchor allow the athletic 49ers linebackers to flow to football. He probably won’t sniff the field if he passes. Still, it’s a win to get someone who can give teams so late in the draft.