Mel Kiper Jr. sends Mac Jones to 49ers in 2-round mock
A theme is brewing in multi-round mock drafts involving the 49ers. Mac Jones is often the pick at No. 3 overall, and a cornerback is their choice with the No. 43 pick in the second round. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. stayed on this trend in his second mock draft, but his choice for San Francisco in the second round may be more intriguing than the third pick.
Jones has been connected a lot to the 49ers since they made their trade up to No. 3, so it’s not a huge surprise Kiper sticks him in San Francisco. There appears to be some trepidation though from the analyst when it comes to Jones being the correct choice.
From Kiper:
Is he the perfect fit for Shanahan’s offense? Only time will tell. Jones is my fourth-ranked quarterback and is No. 12 on my Big Board, and I’m not sure I see a superstar when I watch him on tape. He’s solid — and extremely accurate — but not spectacular. Lynch and Shanahan are obviously taking the long view here, and this decision is going to be discussed and debated for years.
Shanahan and the 49ers need Kiper to be incorrect in regards to Jones’ future stardom. Trading a trio of first-round picks to move up to No. 3 overall requires more than just an average to slightly above average player. They need a superstar who’s going to keep them in contention for Super Bowls for the better part of the next two decades.
Jones’ accolades are well-known, and his high-level processing and elite accuracy numbers are the reason so many analysts tie the former Alabama star to the 49ers’ head coach. He did complete 77.4 percent of his throws for 4,500 yards with 41 touchdowns and four interceptions last year for the national champions. There are some dots there, but that superstar plateau is going to be harder to reach due to Jones’ lack of top-end physical tools.
The 49ers’ second selection in Kiper’s mock is a fascinating one. He has Georgia cornerback Tyson Campbell heading to San Francisco with the 43rd overall pick.
A lack of depth in this corner class means finding a starting-caliber player could require the use of a relatively early second-round choice. The 49ers have done a nice job of retooling their secondary this offseason, but quality depth and starters beyond this year are still an issue. Campbell can help in both places.
Kiper notes Campbell’s upside is what jumps out early in the second round:
Before the 49ers made the trade up to No. 3, I thought corner was the most likely position to target at No. 12. And they can still get a good one in Round 2. Campbell played a lot of press coverage for the Bulldogs, and he was inconsistent, but I’d bet on his upside. San Francisco let both Ahkello Witherspoon and Richard Sherman walk in free agency.
Campbell’s upside comes from his combination of size (6-1, 193 pounds) and athleticism. He has plenty of speed that shows up on tape and in his 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. While there may be some concerns about his readiness on Day 1, the 49ers won’t need to slide him into a starting role right away.
Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley figure to be the starters going into the year. A full season to refine his skill in the 49ers’ defense would give Campbell a chance to realize that big-time upside he brings with his physical tools.
