Green is an expert at press man-to-man coverage and has played both outside and in the slot.
This appears to be a wise choice.
With choice number 64, the 49ers selected Florida State cornerback Renardo Green after moving down one spot. The 49ers traded picks 63 and 211 to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for picks 64 and 173 in the trade. And the Chiefs selected offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia with choice number sixty-three.
In twenty years, Green is the only CB the 49ers have selected before Round 3. Additionally, the 49ers need a cornerback. They deserve praise for taking one rather early. With his expertise in press man-to-man coverage—which is precisely what caused the 49ers offense to struggle in the Super Bowl—Green can play both outside and in the slot. The 49ers defense appears to be changing, then.
However, a run of offensive tackles was passed on by the 49ers. They might have moved up a few positions to acquire Washington OT Roger Rosengarten, Notre Dame OT Blake Fisher, or Houston OT Patrick Paul rather than moving down. Alternatively, the 49ers might have chosen to pass on Suamataiai with pick number sixty-three. Rather, the 49ers allowed the Chiefs to take Suamataiai by trading down with them; the Chiefs had recently defeated the 49ers in the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs have already traded up for Xavier Worthy in Round 1 and have done so with both of their selections thus far. This indicates that they have been proactive, while the 49ers have been inactive.
Though corners are easier to find than offensive tackles, and the 49ers just passed on the last few significant picks in this draft, Green might develop into a terrific cornerback. It has been two years since they last drafted an offensive lineman.
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