Drafting a cornerback in the first few rounds makes perfect sense for the 49ers, but it isn’t something that is likely to happen when the NFL draft arrives.

Offensive line has been chalked up as the position the San Francisco 49ers will draft in the first round.

However, cornerback is just as important of a position for the 49ers to address as well. They’ve been looking for their third cornerback to join their anchors Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir for two seasons now.

Plus, the 49ers don’t have any cornerback signed for the long-term. Lenoir and Ward are set to become free agents after 2024. Drafting a cornerback in the first round gives them at least four years and someone who is fairly talented.

That is why Pro Football Focus recently mocked Iowa’s T.J. Tampa to the 49ers at pick No. 31. Unfortunately, I don’t see the 49ers drafting a cornerback in any of the first few rounds. Usually when the 49ers draft a player on day one and day two, they target players who address a need.

Cornerback isn’t really much of a need for the 49ers anymore after they signed Isaac Yiadom and Rock Ya-Sin in the last month. Both of these players will compete to start on the outside along with Ambry Thomas, and that is assuming they even give Thomas a fair shot.

Drafting a cornerback in the first few rounds will essentially force the 49ers to give the rookie that favoritism since he was drafted so high. Doing so will make the signings of Yiadom and Ya-Sin pointless. Not unless the 49ers actually don’t mind letting the rookie come along slowly and be brought on in the middle of the season.

However, I just don’t see the 49ers doing that and caring to wait on a rookie to develop in the year if he can’t start immediately. Free agent signings shouldn’t prevent a team from drafting a player at a position if he really is a good player, but if an impressive cornerback prospect is there, I don’t envision the 49ers taking him.

Offensive line or defensive line seems like the best part in the first few rounds for them, then a cornerback on day three of the draft.

49ers Draft DT Jer’Zhan Newton in Latest Mock Draft

The 49ers always prioritize their defensive line over everything else, even when their defensive line is strong.

Round 1 of the upcoming NFL Draft is eight days away and the leading analysts in the industry still have no clue what position the 49ers will address in Round 1.

First, they said offensive tackle. Then they said wide receiver. Now it’s defensive tackle, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, who projects the 49ers to take Illinois DT Jer’Zhan Newton in Round 1 of his latest mock draft.

“Regardless of their perceived top needs, the 49ers are always looking for upgrades on the defensive line,” Brugler writes. “Newton doesn’t have ideal size for what San Francisco wants (similar to how he fits in most schemes), but his disruptive nature and relentless play personality are qualities that help him overcome average measurements.”

Brugler’s logic checks out. The 49ers always prioritize their defensive line over everything else, even when their defensive line is strong. They just spent all of free agency revamping it. They let five players go and brought in four new ones at the position. And yet they absolutely could spend their first pick on another defensive tackle.

Maliek Collins could be a one-year stop gap considering he has no guaranteed money left on his contract next year. So the 49ers could draft Newton now to replace Collins then. And in the meantime, Newton could back up Collins, because the 49ers like to play at least eight defensive linemen in every game.

The 49ers like to stick to their roster-building blueprint even though it still hasn’t produced a Lombardi Trophy. I don’t see them changing now.