Forget quarterback and linebacker. A surprising position the Niners will likely skip in the 2026 NFL Draft, defying conventional wisdom.
The NFL Draft is around the corner as teams gear up for several consequential selections. With that, many are making their opinions known on which positions their teams should draft this April.
On the other side of the coin, many are announcing which positions their team will not draft in the upcoming selection showcase. And while logical, it counters the prevailing belief for some that a team must draft the best player available.
Parker Hurley of San Francisco 49ers on SI shared three positions that the Niners will probably forego drafting this offseason. Two of those positions were quarterback and linebacker where the team is more than set in regard to starting players and depth. The third position may come as a surprise.
Hurley identified the cornerback position as one San Francisco might avoid with the following reasoning.
"Cornerback is a position that has been linked to the 49ers in recent weeks and months. However, the addition of Nate Hobbs may end that talk. Hobbs is valuable because he can play the slot and outside. It signals that the team could mix-and-match Deommodore Lenoir in the slot more and stick Hobbs outside. ...
Darrell Luter and Jakob Robinson are capable depth options on the outside and slot, respectively. Any addition the team makes would be pushing those two out, meaning that the fifth cornerback spot is as high as a rookie would get. Do the 49ers draft a fifth cornerback when they have other needs?"
Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy (3) jogs during warm-ups before a NCAA football game between Tennessee Volunteers and New Mexico State Aggies at Neyland Stadium. Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesHurley notes the loophole in the "best player available" drafting rule: If you already have abundance at a position, address needs elsewhere. Especially if you are not certain that what you get from a player is a clear upgrade that takes one over the top.
The cornerback class this season is not bad by any stretch, but it's imperfect and commands several questions. It's uncertain any corner in this year's draft will see any consideration for a Top 5 pick save for Mansoor Delane. And even then, that's not a guarantee.
The questions arise after Delane where high upside players like Jermod McCoy are available but pose questions due to injury history. Were McCoy able to stay healthy last year, we could be looking at a player who earns the top cornerback moniker in this season's draft class. That said, the unanswered question leaves some cautious to draft McCoy.
We'll see where the Niners go with their picks, but don't count on cornerback being the selection early for San Francisco.