© John David Mercer | 2019 Nov 30
It’s a mock draft that would make the late Al Davis smile.
ESPN draft guru Todd McShay dropped his latest 2020 mock draft last week and like Mel Kiper’s, he has the 49ers taking a wide receiver and cornerback in the first round. McShay believes that San Francisco will end up with two of the draft’s fastest players, projecting a selection of Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III with the 13th overall pick and Clemson CB A.J. Terrell at No. 31.
Ruggs ran a combine-best 4.27 40-yard dash, while Terrell’s 4.42 was tied for 16th fastest.
Here’s McShay’s scouting report on each player:
Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
The 49ers dealt DeForest Buckner to land this pick, and they could immediately replace him with South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw. But San Francisco is searching for a wide receiver, a concern that grew more pressing when Emmanuel Sanders signed in New Orleans. Coach Kyle Shanahan likes speedy guys who can tack on yards after the catch, and that’s what Ruggs does. Suddenly, that arsenal doesn’t look too bad with the likes of Deebo Samuel and George Kittle also running routes for Jimmy Garoppolo.
A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
Ruggs at No. 13 took care of the wide receiver void, and while someone like Texas A&M’s Justin Madubuike could be fun in the middle of the defensive front as a replacement for DeForest Buckner, cornerback is the larger issue at hand. LSU’s Kristian Fulton and Ohio State’s Damon Arnette shouldn’t be ruled out, but Terrell is long and plays fast — as he ran a 4.42 at the combine. He has the talent to be a difference-maker opposite Richard Sherman.
McShay’s mock has Ruggs as the third receiver taken, with the Raiders taking his college teammate Jerry Jeudy and the Jets selecting Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb with the previous two picks at 11 and 12 respectively. McShay has Terrell as the fourth cornerback selected.