The Niners need a starting cornerback still.
The San Francisco 49ers are entering the 2025 NFL Draft with several needs to address in one of the more crucial drafts in recent memory for the franchise.
San Francisco pivoted to the draft early this offseason, letting a majority of their key free agents walk while staying quiet with additions as they looked to get younger and cheaper across the board.
Heading into the draft, there is a wide range of possibilities for the 49ers to attack over the first two days of the draft. But, the area that San Francisco has really done well with during the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch era has been Day 3 of the draft, where the team has usually gone best player available.
In a deeper class at certain positions, that could be the case for San Francisco once again in the 2025 NFL Draft as they look to fill out their needs.
Who is considered a sleeper pick in the later rounds, according to analysts?
ESPN draft expert Jordan Reid cited UTSA cornerback Zah Frazier as his favorite Day 3 sleeper in the upcoming class, specifically naming the 49ers as one of three great fits for the prospect.
“Frazier is an ideal match for teams that run zone-heavy defensive schemes,” Reid said. “His combination of height, speed and ball skills are among the best of the late-round options in this class. At 6-foot-3, 186 pounds, he ran a 4.36 40 and had impressive jumps (36½ inches on vertical and 10-feet-6-inches on broad).
“He tied for second in the FBS with six interceptions last season, and his reactionary skills complement his size. Frazier’s age — he’ll be 25 in October — might push him down the board, but he could quickly outplay his draft slot. The 49ers, Bills and Vikings are three teams that feature zone heavy schemes and have needs at the position.”
The 49ers need a starting cornerback still after losing Charvarius Ward in free agency. They did sign Seattle Seahawks corner Tre Brown, but he hasn’t been a long-term starter before, playing in just 34 percent of the defensive snaps in 2024.
Additionally, the team signed Brown to a one-year deal worth only $1.17 million. That doesn’t scream starter money.
San Francisco could very well target a cornerback in the first or second round and still double-dip later with a player like Brown. Regardless, there’s an apparent need for a cornerback in the draft, so Frazier would make sense, let alone the scheme fit.
Looking at his measurables, Frazier is unique, running a blazing 4.36 40-yard dash at 6’2, 186 pounds, while having an overall 9.68 Raw Athletic Score (RAS) out of 10.
The age could be a concern, but for a late-round pick in today’s world of college football, the production could be more important for an immediate contributor.
Frazier would fit on the outside at cornerback and could be an option opposite Renardo Green if he plays well this offseason, moving Deommodore Lenoir back to the nickel.
The measurables could bump Frazier up the draft board, but he could be a sleeper in this year’s class at cornerback, fitting the 49ers needs.